U.S. patent application number 11/668881 was filed with the patent office on 2007-07-12 for systems and methods to provide communication connections.
This patent application is currently assigned to UTBK, INC.. Invention is credited to Ebbe ALTBERG, Scott FABER, Ron HIRSON, Paul G. MANCA, Sean VAN DER LINDEN.
Application Number | 20070160035 11/668881 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38232674 |
Filed Date | 2007-07-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070160035 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
ALTBERG; Ebbe ; et
al. |
July 12, 2007 |
Systems and Methods to Provide Communication Connections
Abstract
Methods and apparatuses to provide communication connections for
partners based on communication references assigned to entities
maintained by the partners. In one embodiment, a method includes:
receiving from a partner contact information of an entity;
providing the partner with a real-time communication reference
usable to at least initiate a request for a communication
connection; and in response to receiving a request initiated via
the real-time communication reference, providing a real-time
communication connection between a requester and the entity using
the contact information received from the partner.
Inventors: |
ALTBERG; Ebbe; (Mill Valley,
CA) ; FABER; Scott; (San Francisco, CA) ;
HIRSON; Ron; (San Francisco, CA) ; VAN DER LINDEN;
Sean; (Berkeley, CA) ; MANCA; Paul G.;
(Oakland, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GREENBERG TRAURIG, LLP (SV);IP DOCKETING
2450 COLORADO AVENUE
SUITE 400E
SANTA MONICA
CA
90404
US
|
Assignee: |
UTBK, INC.
3500 South DuPont Highway
Dover
DE
19901
|
Family ID: |
38232674 |
Appl. No.: |
11/668881 |
Filed: |
January 30, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11329459 |
Jan 10, 2006 |
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11668881 |
Jan 30, 2007 |
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60764719 |
Feb 1, 2006 |
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60799610 |
May 10, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
370/352 ;
370/401 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M 3/42161 20130101;
H04M 15/09 20130101; H04L 12/1813 20130101; H04M 7/003
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
370/352 ;
370/401 |
International
Class: |
H04L 12/66 20060101
H04L012/66; H04L 12/56 20060101 H04L012/56 |
Claims
1. A method, comprising: receiving from a partner contact
information of an entity; providing the partner with a real-time
communication reference usable to at least initiate a request for a
communication connection; and in response to receiving a request
initiated via the real-time communication reference, providing a
real-time communication connection between a requester and the
entity using the contact information received from the partner.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing of the real-time
communication connection between the requester and the entity
comprises: a connection provider establishing a first Voice over
Internet Protocol (VoIP) call with a telecommunication carrier
which bridges the first VoIP call to a public switched telephone
network (PSTN) to the requester; the connection provider
establishing a second Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) call with
a telecommunication carrier which bridges the second VoIP call to a
public switched telephone network (PSTN) to the entity; and
connecting the first and second VoIP calls.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein a first virtual softphone of the
telecommunication carrier terminates the first VoIP call for
bridging onto a public switched telephone network (PSTN); a second
virtual softphone of the telecommunication carrier terminates the
second VoIP call for bridging onto a public switched telephone
network (PSTN); and the connecting the first and second VoIP calls
comprises: directing the first and second softphones to establish a
direct media connection which does not go through the connection
provider.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: charging a fee
responsive to the real-time communication being established using
the contact information.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein said charging the fee comprises:
charging a fee according to a price specified by the entity.
6. The method of claim 5, further comprising: paying a fee to the
partner according to the price specified by the entity, responsive
to the real-time communication connection comprising a telephonic
connection being established.
7. The method of claim 6, further comprising: paying the entity a
fee according to the price specified by the first entity.
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising: providing the partner
with information about the real-time communication connection.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the information about the
real-time communication connection comprises a time duration of the
real-time communication connection between the requester and the
entity.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the real-time communication
connection comprises a telephonic connection; and the method
further comprises: determining a time duration of the telephonic
connection between the requester and the entity; and charging the
requester a fee according to a price specified by the entity and
the time duration for a service provided by the entity over the
telephonic connection.
11. The method of claim 10, further comprising: paying the partner
a portion of the fee.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising: paying the entity a
fee according to the price specified by the entity and the time
duration.
13. The method of claim 1, further comprising: charging the entity
a fee according to a price specified by the entity.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the real-time communication
connection comprises a telephonic connection; and said charging
comprises: charging the entity the fee independent of a time
duration of the telephonic connection between the requester and the
entity.
15. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving the request
comprises: receiving the request at a web server through
redirection from the partner.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein when rendered in a browser, the
real-time communication reference presents a user interface element
which when selected causes the browser to send the request to the
partner which redirects the request to the web server.
17. The method of claim 1, wherein the real-time communication
reference is to be embedded in a document, which when selected is
to at least initiate the request to at least initiate a real-time
communication connection to the entity.
18. The method of claim 1, wherein the real-time communication
reference comprises a telephone number which is to be dialed to
generate the request.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein said providing comprises:
establishing a telephonic connection to the entity using the
contact information in response to receiving the request at the
telephone number.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein said establishing comprises:
establishing the telephonic connection to the entity at least in
part via Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).
21. A machine readable media embodying instructions, the
instructions causing a machine to perform a method, the method
comprising: receiving from a partner contact information of an
entity; providing the partner with a real-time communication
reference usable to at least initiate a request for a communication
connection; and in response to receiving a request initiated via
the real-time communication reference, providing a real-time
communication connection between a requester and the entity using
the contact information received from the partner.
22. A data processing system, comprising: means for receiving from
a partner contact information of an entity; means for providing the
partner with a real-time communication reference usable to at least
initiate a request for a communication connection; and means for,
in response to receiving a request initiated via the real-time
communication reference, providing a real-time communication
connection between a requester and the entity using the contact
information received from the partner.
Description
[0001] The present patent application is a continuation in part
application of copending U.S. patent application Ser. No.
11/329,459, filed Jan. 10, 2006 and entitled "Systems and Methods
to Provide Availability Indication". The present patent application
claims the priority to a provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser.
No. 60/764,719, filed Feb. 1, 2006 and entitled "Systems and
methods to provide communication connection", and U.S. Patent
Application Ser. No. 60/799,610, filed May 10, 2006 and entitled
"Systems and methods to convert a free call to a fee-based call".
The disclosures of the prior applications are hereby incorporated
herein by reference.
TECHNOLOGY FIELD
[0002] At least some embodiments of the present invention relate to
user interface techniques to assist people to connect for real-time
communication, such as connecting people for telephonic
conversation, chat, document sharing, screen-sharing, etc.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Internet, cellular communication systems, television,
newspaper, etc., provide diverse communication media channels
through which people may receive information and/or communicate
with each other.
[0004] People may use a web site to chronologically publish
personal thoughts and web links. Such a web site may be referred to
as a blog. A blog may include content showing what is happening in
the life of the person, collecting information on certain types of
subjects of interest to the person, providing links to related web
sites, etc. Thus, a personal web site may include a collection of
contents that may be helpful to people of similar interest.
[0005] Telephone systems allow users to conduct real time two-way
voice communication. Traditional land-line based telephone systems
connect one telephone set to another through one or more switching
centers, operated by one or more telephone companies, over a
land-line based telephone network. Traditionally, a telephone
connection is based on a circuit switched network.
[0006] Current telephone systems may also use a packet-switched
network for a telephone connection. A packet switched network is
typical in a computer data environment. Recent developments in the
field of Voice over IP (VoIP) allow the delivery of voice
information using the Internet Protocol, in which voice information
is packaged in a digital form in discrete packets rather than in
the traditional circuit-committed protocols of the public switched
telephone network (PSTN).
[0007] Cellular networks allow a cellular phone to connect to a
nearby cellular base station through an air interface for wireless
access to a telephone network. Recent developments in wireless
telephone systems allow not only voice communications but also data
communications. For example, cellular phones can now receive and
send short messages through a Short Message Service (SMS). Web
pages can now be retrieved through wireless cellular links and
displayed on cellular phones. Wireless Application Protocol (WAP)
has been developed to overcome the constraints of relatively slow
and intermittent nature of wireless links to access information
similar or identical to World Wide Web.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The present invention is illustrated by way of example and
not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which
like references indicate similar elements.
[0009] FIG. 1 illustrates a system according to one embodiment of
the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 illustrates a user interface to create a listing
according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 3 illustrates a user interface to start a communication
according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 4 illustrates a user interface to display the status of
a communication connection process and to provide the user guidance
through the process according to one embodiment of the present
invention.
[0013] FIGS. 5-12 show examples of flow diagrams of a process to
connect a user and an adviser for communication according to one
embodiment of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 13 illustrates a method to display a call button
according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 14 illustrates a method to monitor and control a
connection according to one embodiment of the present
invention.
[0016] FIG. 15 shows a diagram of a system to assist and track
connections according to one embodiment of the present
invention.
[0017] FIG. 16 illustrates a system to provide communication
connections according to one embodiment of the present
invention.
[0018] FIGS. 17-18 illustrate a media database and a connection
database which can be used in a system to provide communication
connections according to one embodiment of the present
invention.
[0019] FIGS. 19-20 show flow diagrams of methods to provide
communication connections according to embodiments of the present
invention.
[0020] FIG. 21 shows a block diagram example of a data processing
system which may be used with the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 22 shows a system including a connection server
configured on a packet switched network according to one
embodiment.
[0022] FIG. 23 shows a connection server according to one
embodiment.
SUMMARY
[0023] Methods and apparatuses to provide communication connections
for partners based on communication references assigned to entities
maintained by the partners are described herein. In one embodiment,
a method includes: receiving from a partner contact information of
an entity; providing the partner with a real-time communication
reference usable to at least initiate a request for a communication
connection; and in response to receiving a request initiated via
the real-time communication reference, providing a real-time
communication connection between a requester and the entity using
the contact information received from the partner.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] The following description and drawings are illustrative of
the invention and are not to be construed as limiting the
invention. Numerous specific details are described to provide a
thorough understanding of the present invention. However, in
certain instances, well known or conventional details are not
described in order to avoid obscuring the description. References
to one or an embodiment in the present disclosure can be, but not
necessarily are, references to the same embodiment; and, such
references mean at least one.
[0025] In one embodiment of the present invention, a system is to
provide services to people who wish to make connections for real
time communication, such as live telephone conversation, chat,
video conferencing, instant messaging, and other forms of real time
communications.
[0026] For example, benefits of the services may include anonymity
for one or more of the parties of the real time communication. For
example, the service can connect the caller and callee without
revealing the contact information of one party to another, such as
the actual telephone number. The services may include filtering
callers/participants so that only those who are willing to pay can
get connected. The services may include collecting payments for the
callee so that the callee can earn money from talking to the
callers over the phone without the burden of managing payment
collection, etc. The services may include scheduling so that the
real time communication are initiated at a convenient time (e.g.,
no night calls). The services may include queue managing to serve
both the callees and the callers. The services may include
providing the cool, convenient click-to-call functionality to
attract callers for the callees.
[0027] In one embodiment, the services may include providing a
persistent and consistent way to reach people. For example, a web
link, or a toll-free number, or a local phone number can be
provided by the system so that the callers can reach the callee
using the web link, or the toll-free number, or the local phone
number even after the telephone of the callee has been changed. The
callee can publish the web link and/or the phone number, knowing
that the calls will follow if the callee updates the telephone
number in the system. The callees do not need to reveal their
actual telephone numbers to the potential callers. If desired, the
callee can keep the caller from knowing the actual telephone number
of the callee for anonymity.
[0028] In general, the service may provide any combination of the
benefits discussed above.
[0029] Many examples are presented in the context of telephone
connection for real time conversation. Embodiments of the present
invention can also be applied to other real time communication
systems (e.g., text chat, instant messaging, voice/video
conferencing, etc.) in a way similar to the telephone
conversation.
[0030] FIG. 1 illustrates a system according to one embodiment of
the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 1, callees who have
customers, fans, far-away clients, etc., can make money talking
with them on the phone. The system provides the callees with
services of managing the transactions such that the callees can
sell what they have to say with reduced/minimum efforts on business
aspects. For example, a blogger can earn money from the blog by
talking to the interested readers of the blog.
[0031] In one embodiment, the callee can sign up for a call button
of the system and/or for a phone number provided by the system. The
call button and/or the assigned phone number can be used as the
contact information of the callee. For example, the callee can
publish the call button and/or the phone number in a variety of
media channels and environments, such as in the blog, in
advertisements, in news articles, in column discussions, in
business cards, etc.
[0032] In one embodiment of the present invention, the callees
manage their own distribution of the call button and/or the phone
number, since the callees may have their unique ways to reach
potential callers (e.g., through blogs, home pages, business cards,
etc.). The callees can bring the call button and/or the phone
number into the context where the customers of the callees are,
such as their own web pages or blogs or business cards (e.g., via a
phone number).
[0033] Alternatively, or in combination, the system may also help
the callees to reach callers through presenting the call buttons
and/or the phone numbers in marketplaces, such as online listings
of services, advertisements embedded in the search results
generated by a search engine, classified advertisements, etc.
[0034] After signing up for the call button and/or the phone
number, the callees can set up their own prices and their own hours
for receiving the calls. When the call button and/or the phone
number leads the callers to callees, the callees can earn money by
talking to the callers without having to manage scheduling, queue,
payment collection, privacy, etc. For example, the callees can
enjoy the benefit of anonymity provided by the system, since the
callees do not have to reveal their actual phone numbers to the
potential callers in order to receive calls. The system provides
the filtering functionality so that some callers can reach the
callees.
[0035] In one embodiment of the present invention, the services of
the system are packaged and delivered through the use of a call
button and/or a communication reference (such as a phone number)
assigned to the callee. The callees do not have to rely upon a
marketplace, such as keen.com, to have callers reach them.
[0036] FIG. 2 illustrates a user interface to create a listing
according to one embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2,
the callee can specify the rate the callee will charge the callers
when the callers want to talk to the callee.
[0037] In one embodiment, the callee may specify the price (rate)
in terms of a package, such as $100 for one hour. A call package
has a specified price for a given time limit that is longer than
one minute (e.g., one hour). Alternatively, the callee may specify
the price in terms of a price per unit of time, such as $2 per
minute, without specifying a time limit.
[0038] In one embodiment, when the rate is specified as a package
that includes a time limit (e.g., 60 minutes, two hours, etc.), the
callee can further specify the policy for the continuation of the
call beyond the time limit (e.g., $50 per 30 minutes thereafter, or
end call, or no longer charge).
[0039] In one embodiment, the callee can specify that they'd like
to offer the caller free talk time before the paid portion of the
call begins. This free talk time can be used to determine whether
the callee's skills can indeed meet the caller's needs and whether
there is enough trust to warrant a paid transaction. The callee can
specify whether the caller can talk for 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 free
minutes, or even a limitless number of free minutes until a paid
transaction is signaled. A paid transactions could be signaled by
the seller or buyer pressing the # key on their telephone keypad,
for instance. In this example, a caller could call through to a
callee's phone just like a normal telephone call, until the # key
is pressed, when the caller is directed to a live operator or IVR
flow in which his payment details are collected and the caller is
automatically billed for the subsequent time he spends talking to
the callee on the phone.
[0040] In the user interface illustrated in FIG. 2, the callee can
specify the phone number (e.g., 415-861-6100) at which the system
will call the callee when a customer wishes to speak to the callee.
The phone number is used by the system to call the callee and make
a connection to the customer. The phone number of the callee is not
provided to callers (customers of the callee) for anonymity.
[0041] In one embodiment, the callee may specify a listing name
(e.g., for this listing). The callee may create multiple listings
with different rates, phone numbers, etc., in the same account.
Optionally, the callee provide may further description and a photo
(e.g., a photo of the callee) for the listing.
[0042] In one embodiment, the photo of the listing should be no
larger than 70 pixel wide by 70 pixel high and should be in either
GIF or JPEG format. Alternatively, the system may automatically
convert the image uploaded from the callee into the appropriate
size and format. However, it is understood that other sizes can
also be used.
[0043] After the listing is created, the callee can select the
button "Continue" to access the next screen for getting the call
button.
[0044] In one embodiment, the web server of the system provides the
callee with: a call button and/or a phone number, such as
1-800-GO-ETHER extension XXXX, after the callee finishes creating
the listing. The call button and the phone number assigned to the
callee are intended for the callee to place wherever a caller
(buyer) will come across them. The phone number can also be a
toll-free number without an extension or even a local number.
[0045] In one embodiment, the callee, or seller, uses the given
phone number to initiate calls back to the caller, or caller. In
this case, the callee becomes the caller and the caller becomes the
callee. For instance, a seller could receive a voicemail from a
buyer who would like some information and has left his phone number
to be called. The seller could reach this buyer by first dialing
his Ether number and into his Ether account, then bridging the call
to the buyer by dialing his phone number into the IVR. When the
buyer answers, the call is initially free, until the # key is
pressed, which triggers the billing module collecting funds from
the buyer and paying the seller. Alternatively, the buyer can
provide his phone number to the connection provider, instead of to
the seller in the voicemail. In response to the voicemail, the
seller can ask the connection provider to bridge the call from the
seller to the buyer. In one embodiment, the voicemail is maintained
in the system of the connection provider in association with the
phone number of the buyer. After a period of time, the buyer may
optionally ask the connection provider to cancel the voicemail, or
block the seller from calling back to the buyer. Alternatively, the
voicemail can be left on the answer machine of the seller, or a
voicemail service of the seller that is not under the control of
the connection provider. The seller can identify the buyer by
specifying the date and time of the voicemail, or a reference added
by the connection provider to the voicemail.
[0046] For example, a golf pro provides great swing tips. The golf
pro as a callee (seller) can put a call button on a blog, on a web
page, in the footer of an email, etc. When people are reading the
blog about golf equipment, they might think "I'm really interested
in what this person has to say, I think I'll pay to talk to them
live and ask them all my questions."
[0047] In one embodiment, the call button includes HTML (Hypertext
Markup Language) code which contains a reference to the listing and
one or more links to a server of the system. The HTML code can be
inserted into the blog and/or the home page of the callee, or an
email. When the HTML code is rendered in the browser of the caller
(e.g., when the caller visits the blog or the home page of the
callee, or when the caller views an email from the callee), the
browser shows a call button which can be selected (e.g., through
"clicking" on the call button using a cursor controlling device,
such as a mouse, a track ball, a joystick, a touch screen, etc.) to
request a phone connection. An example of the appearance of a call
button includes an icon showing a telephone set and the text "call
now", as illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0048] In one embodiment, when the call button is rendered, the
appearance of the call button may include an icon, which when
selected or activated can initiated a request for a real time
communication connection.
[0049] Alternatively, the call button can be specified in documents
in a format other than HTML, such as in an extensible markup
language (XML).
[0050] In one embodiment, the call button can change its state
depending on the state of the caller and/or callee. For instance,
if the callee is already on a phone call with a caller, the button
would indicate "busy," so that a second caller would see that the
callee is already on a telephone. Clicking on the button in this
instance would give the second caller the ability to get in line to
talk to the callee. Or, in another embodiment, the second caller
clicking on the button could give him the ability to join the call
in progress.
[0051] In one embodiment, the call button can change its state
depending on what the callee explicitly indicates. The callee
could, for instance, tell the system, via a web form or telephone
IVR, that he is currently "taking calls" or "not taking calls" or
"offering video" or "offering chat" or "taking appointments" or
taking "arranged calls" or "callbacks." He could indicate that he
is taking calls and is "by my phone," indicating a heightened
presence. Depending upon each of such states, the system would lead
callers down different communication paths. If a callee is "by my
[his/her] phone," the system might call the caller first, since
it's highly probably that the callee will be available for his/her
side of the connection. If the callee is simply "taking calls," the
system might call the callee first, since he/she might be the more
unlikely party to be available. Other communication paths include
getting in line, joining a conference call, turning on a video
connection, scheduling an appointment, entering into a chat
session, etc.
[0052] Similarly, the golf pro can use the phone number for various
offline media and other media. For example, if the golf pro writes
a column for Golf Digest magazine, he can put the phone number that
is assigned to him (e.g., Ether phone number) at the end of the
column, such as 1-800-GO-ETHER, extension XXXX. The system can even
provide him with a custom 800 number, such as 1-800-GOLF-PRO,
rather than the extension to a generic 1-800-GO-ETHER number. For
example, the column may include the following message: "Call me to
talk about your own golf swing. Dial 1-800-GOLF-PRO. $100/hour."
Alternatively, the Ether phone number can be a phone number local
to a specific region of interest to the golf pro (e.g., having the
same area code, or the same area code and exchange, as those in the
target geographical area).
[0053] In one embodiment, the callee may request a phone number,
such as "1-800-GO-ETHER" extension "YOU", which is specifically
assigned to the callee (and/or the listing). The callee can publish
the assigned phone number in the blog, home page, printed
publications, brochure, or business card. The phone number may be
given out during a TV or radio talk show, etc. When the assigned
phone number is called, the call is first connected to a server of
the system. The system can then call the callee and join the caller
and the callee for real time communication.
[0054] FIG. 3 illustrates a user interface to start a communication
according to one embodiment of the present invention. For example,
after a caller selects a call button, the user interface as
illustrated in FIG. 3 is displayed (e.g., in the browser of the
caller, or in a pop-up window).
[0055] In the example of FIG. 3, a call graphic is displayed to
show the progress of making the connection. In FIG. 3, the photo of
the callee (e.g., the photo uploaded by the callee to the server
for the listing during the creation of the listing) is displayed
with a link "More about me", which when selected causes the browser
to display the description of the listing corresponding to the call
button.
[0056] In one embodiment, when the photo of the listing is not
available, the system may present a standard icon to represent the
callee.
[0057] In FIG. 3, an icon and the description "Your Telephone" are
displayed to present the caller. An "ether" icon between the caller
and callee represents the system. The link "How this works" under
the "ether" icon can be selected to see the details of the call
process, which can be helpful to a user who is not familiar with
the system.
[0058] The user interface presents an entry to receive a time
window (e.g., 4 hours) within which the caller is available to take
a call back from the system to talk to the callee. The user
interface also includes an entry to receive the phone number of the
caller such that the system can call back the caller to make the
connection between the caller and the callee in this time
window.
[0059] In one embodiment, the user interface can be part of the
VoIP client application (e.g., the user interface of a VoIP
terminal, such as the user interface of a VoIP-enable phone, or an
application window of a VoIP application running on a computer or a
Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)). The VoIP phone connection can be
established, whether the user inputs the callback phone number or
if the VoIP connection simply connects the two parties without the
need of a phone number.
[0060] In FIG. 3, the user interface includes a button "call now"
which when selected causes the user interface to send the time
window and the callback phone number to a server to request for a
phone connection.
[0061] In one embodiment, the user interface is part of the VoIP
client application which can send the telephonic contact
information (e.g., the phone number of the VoIP client application
or a user ID of the VoIP system) to the server without the user
explicitly specifying the call back number.
[0062] FIG. 4 illustrates a user interface to display the status of
a communication connection process and to provide the user guidance
through the process according to one embodiment of the present
invention.
[0063] In FIG. 4, the call graphic shows that the phone of the
callee is off the hook, indicating that the callee has accepted the
call. The call graphic shows the icon "Press 1" to instruct the
caller to press "1" on the phone to be connected to the callee.
[0064] The user interface further provides text explaining the
status and instruction to the caller.
[0065] In one embodiment, before the callee accepts the call, the
system calls the callee, during which the call graphic shows that
the phone of the callee is ringing and the phone of the caller is
on the hook, not yet answered by the callee. The text is provided
in the user interface to explain the current status of the
connection process and to instruct the user to wait while the
system is contacting the callee.
[0066] Thus, in one embodiment, the system provides the
user-friendly, step-by-step feedback and instruction to the caller
to guide the caller through the connection process.
[0067] In one embodiment, after the connection between the caller
and callee is established, the system further provides feedback and
instructions on the call graphic. For example, during the call the
system can provide the accumulated call time for the purchased
call. If the purchased call has a time limit, the call graphic can
further show the remaining minutes of the call. When the time limit
is approaching (or reached), the call graphic can provide the
guidance and instructions for "recharge" (e.g., by purchasing a
further package, or switching to a per minute mode with a further
time limit, etc.). In one embodiment, the options to continue the
call when the time limit is approaching (or reached) is displayed
in the graphical user interface so that the caller may select an
option in the graphical user interface without interrupting the
conversation with the callee.
[0068] In one embodiment, if a purchased call with a time limit is
interrupted/dropped before the time limit is reached, the caller
can continue the call by requesting a re-connection with a time
window. To help the caller, the call graphic can present the
guidance and instructions for continue the call and present the
status of the continuation of the call. For example, the call
graphic may present a description of the continuation policy for
interrupted/dropped call and show the remaining portion of the time
window to resume the call.
[0069] One example scenario of using a call button that is placed
in the blog, home page, or email of the callee (seller) is
described below.
[0070] When the callee (seller) is taking calls, the call button of
the callee (seller) says "Call Me."
[0071] When the caller (buyer) clicks on the button, the caller
(buyer) is led to a landing page that explains how the service
works and indicates the price, which might be $100 to talk on the
phone for 60 minutes and $1 per minute thereafter.
[0072] When the caller (buyer) clicks the "Continue" button on the
landing page, the caller (buyer) is brought to a page to specify
payment options (e.g., credit card information). Or, if the caller
(buyer) is a returning member, the caller (buyer) can sign in
(e.g., through providing the correct member name and password) to
instruct the system to use the billing information (e.g., credit
card and billing address) that is already on file (e.g., that has
been previously submitted to the system and that is stored in the
database of the system in association with account of the caller).
If the caller (buyer) is not a member, the caller (buyer) is
presented with a page to register with the system and become a
member. Alternatively, the caller (buyer) may specify the payment
information without becoming a member.
[0073] For example, the page may identify the caller (buyer) as a
member according to the information provided by a cookie maintained
by the web browser of the caller (buyer). If the cookie exists, the
cookie includes the member name of the caller (buyer). If the
cookie indicates that the caller (buyer) has already signed in, the
server may skip the sign-in process; otherwise, the caller (buyer)
is prompt to sign in. If the caller (buyer) is new to the network,
the caller (buyer) is asked to register and become a member.
[0074] In one embodiment of the present invention, the call
button/link does not bring the caller (buyer) inside the
marketplace (e.g., a list showing competitors). Instead, the
actions related to the call button happen in the environment of the
callee (seller). For example, the web page(s) can be just a pop-up
window so that the caller does not have to leave the web page
(e.g., blog or home page) of the callee (seller). The landing page
may be within a frame of the blog/home page of the callee, or
within an applet embedded in the blog/home page of the callee.
[0075] Alternatively, the call button may bring the caller (buyer)
to a VoIP application and provide the guidance and instruction to
the caller on the user interface of the VoIP application.
[0076] In one embodiment, the VoIP application has browser
functionality and shows the call button with the blog, web page or
email in the user interface of the VoIP application.
[0077] Alternatively, the call button may bring the caller (buyer)
to the marketplace which shows the offers of the competitors of the
callee (seller).
[0078] In one embodiment, after confirming the payment information,
the caller (buyer) is led to a page to specify the phone number
that the caller (buyer) would like to be called back at and the
time window within which the caller (buyer) is willing to receive
the call back to talk to the callee (seller). The time window might
be "four hours." FIG. 3 shows an example of such a page.
[0079] When the caller (buyer) continues (e.g., pressing the button
"Call Now" in FIG. 3), the system obtains the authorization to
charge an amount, when the call is connected (e.g., $100 from the
buyer's credit card, if the credit card is the method of
payment).
[0080] In one embodiment, a call for a package of bulk minutes
(e.g., that has a specified time limit) is charged when the two
parties are connected, regardless of whether the duration of the
time limit is reached. In one embodiment, to avoid the difficulty
in charging the buyer (e.g., $100) to talk to a seller but the
seller fails to call back within the time window requested by the
buyer, the system does not charge the buyer until after a
connection between the caller (buyer) and the callee (seller) is
successfully established (e.g., for a minimum period of time, or
after the phone call is completed, or after the time limit is
reached, etc.).
[0081] In one embodiment, the system "pre-authorizes" the charge
(e.g., $100) on the buyer's credit card to make sure that, should
the connection be completed, the buyer would be able to pay. In one
embodiment, the system indicates the status of pre-authorization,
charging/not-charging to the buyer in the user interface that
guides the user through the process of making the connection.
[0082] Alternatively, the system may make the charge (e.g., $100)
on the buyer's credit card when starting to make the connection and
make a refund to the buyer if the connection is not successful
within the call back time window specified by the caller (buyer).
Alternatively, the system may charge a portion of the fee (e.g.,
$100) during the phone connection set up period, and refund the
charge if the connection is not successful or charge the remaining
portion after the connection is made successfully (e.g., after the
phone call is completed).
[0083] In one embodiment, the system determines whether or not to
pre-charge the buyer based on statistical data, such as the credit
history of the caller (buyer), the success rate of the callee
(seller) to call back within the time window specified by the
caller (buyer), etc. Thus, for example, if the system determines
that the call is likely to be established within the time window,
the system may pre-charge the caller; for example, if the system
determines that the caller (buyer) has a good credit history, the
system may defer the charge to a later stage (e.g., after the
completion of the call).
[0084] In one embodiment, after the system determines that the
caller (buyer) has a sufficient source to pay for the call, the
system calls the callee (seller) and says: "We have a caller who is
calling you on your call button. He is paying your $100 fee and is
willing to wait up to 4 hours to talk to you. Please press 1 on
your telephone keypad if you want to take the call now; press 2 if
you can't take it now but can indeed take it within the next 4
hours that has been requested, or press 3 if you won't be able to
take it within 4 hours." Note that different system may associate
different sets of key pressing events (e.g., press 1, press 2,
press 3, . . . ) with different options.
[0085] In one embodiment, the system can optionally provide the
callee (seller) with more information about the caller (buyer)
based on pre-recorded information. For example, the system can
record the self introduction of the caller (buyer) (e.g., the name
of the caller, for instance `Bob`) so that the system tells the
callee "We have `Bob` . . . " instead of "We have a caller . . . ",
where `Bob` is the recording of the self-introduction of the callee
(buyer).
[0086] In one embodiment, the system has the name of caller (buyer)
recorded as part of the member preference/attribute of the caller
(buyer). Alternatively, the system can use a text-to-speech program
to "read out" the name of the buyer when introducing the call to
the callee (seller). Alternatively, the system can record the name
of the caller (buyer) when the system receives a call from the
caller at the phone number assigned to the callee, or callback the
caller first to obtain the recording.
[0087] In one embodiment, if the callee (seller) presses 1, the
system tells the callee (seller) to hold on while the system calls
the caller (buyer). The screen of the caller (buyer) is updated
automatically to indicate that the callee (seller) is ready and the
caller (buyer) is being called back for the connection between the
caller (buyer) and the callee (seller).
[0088] If the callee (seller) presses 2, the system tells the
caller (buyer) (e.g., on the screen of the caller) that the callee
(seller) can't take the call now but expect to take the call within
an identified period of time (e.g., the next 4 hours). The system
will arrange to make the phone connection within the identified
period of time (e.g., the next 4 hours).
[0089] In one embodiment, the system may use alternative numbers to
indicate a response of the callee.
[0090] For example, the system may send a message (e.g., through
email, a web-based user interface for the callee (seller), a voice
mail, an instant message, etc) to the callee about the call and the
identified period of time (e.g., 4-hour time window) so that the
callee (seller) may indicate to the system within the identified
period of time (e.g., next 4 hours) that the callee (seller) is
ready for the call.
[0091] Alternatively, the system may try to call the callee
(seller) periodically or according to a time period specified by
the callee (seller). For example, the callee may press 15 after
pressing 2 to indicate that system should try to make the
connection after 15 minutes. Alternatively, the callee may provide
such an indication through replying to the email, instant message,
short text message, or through a network-based user interface
(e.g., web-based) that is designed to manage the user account. For
example, the network-based user interface may present a list of
calls in the queue and the corresponding time windows. When ready
to take the next phone call, the callee can indicate to the system
that the callee is currently available to take a call (or a
particular one of the calls in the list).
[0092] Alternatively, the caller (buyer) may try to call the callee
(seller) again within the time window (e.g., next 4 hours).
[0093] In one embodiment, the system may monitor the activities
related to this call to avoid duplicated efforts in making the
connection within the time window (e.g., next 4 hours) so that the
caller and callee are not interrupted by unnecessary attempts to
make the connection.
[0094] If the callee (seller) presses 3, the system tells the
caller (buyer) that the callee (seller) can't take the call within
the requested time window. The caller (buyer) in this case is not
charged the price (e.g., $100). In one embodiment, the caller
(buyer) is charged the price (e.g., $100) only when the call
between the caller (buyer) and callee (seller) is actually
connected.
[0095] When the system makes the connection between the caller
(buyer) and callee (seller), the system may call the caller (buyer)
first or call the callee (seller) first, or call both at about the
same time. For example, the system may determine which one of the
caller and callee is more reliable and call the reliable one of the
two first. The system may determine which of the parties is more
reliable based on statistic data collected from past call
connection activities. Alternatively, the system may connect to the
less reliable party first. Alternatively, the callee (seller) may
specify the preference of who is to be called first as part of the
specification of the listing.
[0096] When the caller (buyer) calls the phone number assigned to
the callee (assignee) (e.g., 800-GO-ETHER extension 4567), the
system may first authenticate the caller and/or arrange the payment
options and then prompt the caller to enter the time window and the
call back phone number using the key pad of the phone. An
interactive voice response (IVR) system can be used to interact
with the caller so that the caller does not need web access to be
connect to the callee (seller).
[0097] Alternatively, the system may determine automatically the
telephone contact information of the caller from the call received
from the caller (buyer) (e.g., through call ID service or an
Automatic Number Identification (ANI) service) and use the
telephone contact information in calling back. The system may
present an option for the caller (buyer) to confirm the
automatically detected telephone contact information of the caller
for calling back so that the caller has an opportunity to specify
different telephone contact information for the call back.
[0098] In one embodiment, when the system determines that the
caller has a graphical user interface (e.g., web access) while
requesting the connection for the call (e.g., when the caller
pushes a button on a web interface to request the call, or when the
caller is signed into the system or when the online presence of the
caller is detected, or when the call is initiated from a VoIP
terminal that has a graphics capability), the system uses the
graphical user interface to assist the caller. When the system
fails to detect the online presence of the caller, the system uses
the IVR system to provide the caller (buyer) with guidance. Thus,
the system automatically switches between using the web interface
to guide the caller or using the IRV interface to guide the
caller.
[0099] In one embodiment, the system may further use other
communication systems to guide the callee (e.g., according to the
presence and availability of such communication systems). For
example, the interface may be Wireless Application Protocol based
(WAP-based) applications, or based on instant messaging, or based
on a custom designed client-server application/protocol. Thus, a
web-based interface is presented as an example. User interfaces
based on other communication protocols and/or other types of
communication systems can also be used.
[0100] In one embodiment, the system may ask the caller (buyer) to
hang up temporarily until the callee accepts the call.
Alternatively, the system may allow the caller (buyer) to stay on
the line while the system attempt to reach the callee (seller).
[0101] In one embodiment, the system allows the callee (seller) to
specify one or more alternative phone numbers in case the callee
(seller) is not reachable at the primary phone number specified for
the listing. Similarly, the caller (buyer) may also specify one or
more alternative call back phone numbers. In one embodiment, the
system allows the parties to specify other telephonic references
(e.g., user names of Internet telephonic application) to make the
telephone connection. In one embodiment, the system may further
allow the user to specify other identities to make connections for
other types of real time communications, such as chat, instant
messaging, video conferencing, etc. In this application, instead of
calls over phones connected to a PSTN or via VoIP connections, the
communication connections can be in the form of typewritten/text
chat, video, screen sharing, common whiteboarding, application
sharing, or other types of communications.
[0102] In one embodiment, the system arranges the call according to
aspects of the methods described in the U.S. Patent Application
Publication No. 2004/0252820 (application Ser. No. 10/360,776,
filed on Jun. 12, 2003), which is hereby incorporated herein by
reference.
[0103] When the caller (buyer) requests the connection using the
call button, the web server provides the instructions and feedback
to guide the caller (buyer) through the call process.
[0104] When the caller (buyer) dials the callee's listing via the
Ether phone number (e.g., the 800 number assigned to the callee),
an interactive voice response (IVR) system is used to provide
similar instructions and feedback to guide the caller (buyer)
through the call process.
[0105] For example, the caller (buyer) registers and creates an
identity using the phone number and a PIN. A credit card is asked
for via IVR or live operator to set up payment options. Then the
call window is entered on the keypad of the phone, such as pressing
the string of keys "4*" to indicate a "4" hours window or "60#" for
a "60" minutes window.
[0106] In one embodiment, when the callee is having a telephonic
connection with the system, the system prompts the caller (buyer)
to utter a message for the callee (seller). For example, the caller
(buyer) may say "I'm Bob Stanley--remember we met at the golf
conference last weekend." The system records the messages of the
caller (buyer). When the callee (seller) gets the call, the system
says, "There's a buyer on the line who's paid $100 and is willing
to wait 4 hours and here's how he identifies himself: I'm Bob
Stanley--remember we met at the golf conference last weekend." The
system in such a way provides as much identifying information to
the callee (seller) as possible so that the callee (seller) may
screen the callers for acceptance. In one embodiment, the system
behaves as an automatic secretary, screening who's on the line for
the callee (seller).
[0107] In one embodiment, the system provides functionality for
bulk-minute pricing.
[0108] For example, once a call starts, the system metes out the
time that has been bought. When the time limit, for example, 60
minutes, is up, the system tells both parties on the phone that the
time is up. The system then prompts the buyer to add more money to
buy a second package, or go to per minute pricing, or end the call,
or let them talk further for free, according to the continuation
policy of the call which is specified by the callee (seller) in the
listing (e.g., specified during the creation of the listing).
[0109] In one embodiment, if the parties hang up after just, for
example, 35, minutes of a 60-minute call, the system has a time
window in which it expires the remaining minutes. The time window
can be set quite large, such as a year, so that someone can buy a
1,000-minute discount package and talk 100 times over the course of
the year. Or the time window can be set small, such as 30 minutes,
in which case the caller (buyers) can call again within the
30-minute window after the 35-minute call to keep talking based on
the already purchased 60-minute package, but the caller (buyers)
can be connected on the basis of the unused portion of the
60-minute call package after a break that is longer than the time
window.
[0110] In one embodiment, the system time window specifies the
longest period of break before the unused portion of the purchased
package expires.
[0111] In one embodiment, the system time window specifies the
period from the starting of the conversation and the time when the
purchased package expires. For example, the system may specify a
window of 4 hours or so by default, so that people who get cut off
or interrupted can finish their calls in this window of time.
[0112] In one embodiment, the system time window is based on the
size of the purchased package. The larger the time limit of the
package, the larger is the time window. In one embodiment, the
expiration of the package is based on a limit on the separate calls
(e.g., three). In one embodiment, the expiration of the package is
based on the expiration time window and the limit on separate
calls, whichever is reached first.
[0113] In one embodiment, the system allows the callee (seller) to
specify the expiration time window in the specification of the
listing (e.g., as part of the continuation policy of the call
package) and/or the limit on the separate calls.
[0114] FIGS. 5-12 show examples of flow diagrams of a process to
connect a user and an adviser for telephonic conversation according
to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0115] In one embodiment, when a caller selects (e.g., clicks) on a
call button according to one embodiment of the present invention,
the selection (e.g., click) leads down several different paths
depending on the availability status of the seller.
[0116] For example, in FIG. 5, the system determines (201) the
current status of the adviser at the time the telephonic connection
is started. In one embodiment, the current status of the adviser is
determined based at least partially on the information provided by
the adviser. For example, the adviser can specify the scheduled
hours of the day during which the adviser is expected to take
calls; the adviser may select a button (e.g., push through placing
a cursor over the button on a display of a graphical user interface
and activating a selecting device, such as a key or a button of a
cursor positioning device such as a mouse or a touch pad or a
joystick, etc.) on a web page, or make a phone call to the system,
to indicate whether the adviser is currently busy and not answering
new calls and/or to further specify the estimated duration of the
busy period. The adviser may select a button on a user interface
(e.g., a web page designed for the manage of the listing and/or
account of the adviser) to indicate that the adviser is now free
and ready to take calls. The adviser may pick up the phone call
from the system and indicate to the system the current status of
the adviser. The adviser may transmit the current status
information to the system using instant messages, email, SMS
messages, etc.
[0117] If the current status (203) of the adviser is "Taking Calls
Now" or something equivalent, the system starts (e.g., immediately)
a telephone connection and tracks the call (205).
[0118] If the current status (203) of the adviser is "Taking Calls
Shortly", the system starts (207) to arrange the call to be placed
within the time period specified by the caller without trying to
call the adviser immediately, since the adviser is temporary busy
and will be available to take calls within a short period of
time.
[0119] If the current status (203) of the adviser is "Not Taking
Calls for a While" or something equivalent, the system starts (209)
to make an appointment for the user to call the adviser, since the
adviser is not available to take the call and will not be available
for a longer period of time.
[0120] In FIG. 6, when the system starts to at least initiate a
telephone connection (e.g., in response to a request from a
selected call button), the system displays (301) a landing page to
at least initiate a telephone connection and track the call. For
example, the web server of the system transmits information
defining the landing page to the web browser of the user to show
the landing page (e.g., in a pop-up window).
[0121] For example, the landing page may show the name, photo,
status, rate of the adviser, show/explain the process to make the
connection, buttons to navigate the process, option to mail the
adviser, etc.
[0122] Optionally, the system alerts (303) the adviser about the
request for telephone conversation (e.g., through a web-based user
interface, or through email, instant messaging, short text message,
etc.)
[0123] The system determines whether the user has been
authenticated (305). If the user has not been authenticated, the
system authenticates (307) the user. For example, the system signs
in the user if the user is already a member, or registers the user
as a new member if the user is not yet a member.
[0124] The system then determines (309) a source of payment for the
call.
[0125] After the system has identified a source of payment for the
call based on the price for the call specified by the adviser in
the listing, the system may further determine if the adviser is
still having the status of "Taking Calls Now". In certain
instances, the process of authenticating the user and securing the
source of payment may take an extended period of time such that the
availability status of the adviser may have changed.
[0126] If the adviser is no longer available for immediate
connection, the system proceeds (317) according to the current
status of the adviser, based on whether the current status is
"Taking Calls Shortly" or "Not Taking Calls for a While".
[0127] If the adviser is still available for immediate connection,
the system displays (313) a call setup page. The call setup page
may show the progress of call and user interface elements to
receive the time window and the phone number of the user
(caller).
[0128] Once the time window within which the user (caller) is
available for the call and the call back phone number of the user
is received, the system calls (315) the adviser.
[0129] In FIG. 7, after the system starts (401) to call the
adviser, the system updates (403) the call setup page. For example,
the system may play an animation and/or sound clip and/or a text
message to indicate that the system is calling the adviser, in one
embodiment.
[0130] Then, the system determines whether or not the adviser
answered the call (405).
[0131] If the adviser failed to answer the call, the system sends
(407) a mail to the adviser about the unanswered call. The system
notifies (409) the user that the adviser did not answer the call
and a mail has been sent to the adviser. The system then presents
(411) the user with the option of making an appointment with the
adviser.
[0132] If the adviser answered the call, the system obtains the
adviser's choice (413) on the call.
[0133] The adviser may indicate that the adviser will take the call
in the time window specified by the caller, in which case, the
system notifies (415) the user that the adviser will take the call
in the time window. Then, the system waits (417) for a period of
time to call the adviser again. Alternatively, the system may try
the connection based on an indication from the adviser that the
adviser is ready to take the call (e.g., by calling the system,
selecting a button or a link on a web page in the account of the
adviser, sending an email/instant message/short text message to the
system or replying to a message from the system about the call,
etc.)
[0134] The adviser may indicate that the adviser cannot take the
call in the time window specified by the caller, in which case, the
system notifies (421) the user (caller) that the adviser is not
able to take the call and presents (423) the user with the options
of updating the time window and making an appointment.
[0135] The adviser may indicate that the adviser wants to take the
call now, in which case, the system notifies (421) the user that
the adviser is connected and the server is now calling the user (at
which point of the process, the caller may or may not one the
phone). The system then determines if the user is already on the
line (433).
[0136] If the user is not already on the line, the system starts
(435) to call the user and determines whether the user answered the
call (437).
[0137] If the user did not answer the call back, the system
terminates (443) the call (443) and the adviser is notified.
[0138] After the user answers the call back, the user is on one
line and the adviser on another line. The system then prompts (439)
the user to accept the charge of the call before connection to the
adviser and determines whether the user accepts the charge
(441).
[0139] If the user accepts the charge, the system connects (449)
the user to the adviser (e.g., by joining the calls) and starts to
monitor aspects of the call (e.g., duration) and charge the
user.
[0140] If the user rejects the charge or fails to provide a
response within a predetermined period of time, the system
terminates (443) call. After the termination of the call, the
system updates (445) the user interface to show the reason for the
termination. Optionally, the system mails (447) the user about the
termination of the call.
[0141] In FIG. 8, the system displays (501) a landing page, if the
adviser's status is "Not Taking Calls for a While". The landing
page may show the name, photo, status, rate of the adviser, and
show the process to reach the adviser, buttons to navigate the
process, explanation of availability, etc.
[0142] Optionally, the system alerts (503) the adviser about the
request for telephone conversation.
[0143] In one embodiment, the system receives (505) from the
landing page the user selection whether to mail (e.g., email or use
other types of messaging systems) the adviser or to make an
appointment with the adviser.
[0144] If the user selection (507) is to mail the adviser, the
system determines if the user has been authenticated (509). If the
user has not been authenticate, the system authenticates (515) the
user. For example, if there is no cookie in the web browser of the
user indicating that the user is currently in a valid session, the
user may be presented with an interface to sign in or to
register.
[0145] If the authenticated user chooses to mail the adviser, the
system presents (511) a page to receive the subject and message of
the mail from the user. After receiving the subject and message of
the mail, the system sends (513) the mail to the adviser (without
showing the mailing address of the adviser to the user and without
showing the mailing address of the user to the adviser) in
accordance with one embodiment.
[0146] In one embodiment, the mail is delivered electronically
(e.g., through an email, instant message, SMS message, web mail).
Alternatively, the mail may be delivered as voice mail, print out,
etc.
[0147] If the user selection (507) is to make an appointment, the
system starts (517) to make an appointment.
[0148] In FIG. 9, the system displays (601) a landing page for
making an appointment. The landing page may display one or more of
the name, photo, status, rate of the adviser, and show stages of
operations to make the appointment, buttons to navigate through the
stages of operations, show the option to mail the adviser, etc.
[0149] The system displays (603) entries to receive a requested
appointment time. The entries can be part of the landing page or a
page displayed after a navigation button is selected. In one
embodiment, the entries are used to receive one or more of the
date, start time, time length of the appointment, the time zone of
the user, etc.
[0150] In one embodiment, the system further displays existing
schedules and the phone number of the user, etc. for the
convenience of the user (e.g., if the user is already authenticated
at this point of the process).
[0151] After the requested time of the appointment is received from
the user, the system determines if the adviser is available at the
requested time (605). If the adviser is not available at the
requested time, the system prompts (607) the user to adjust the
appointment time; otherwise, the system proceeds to the task of
filtering the callers.
[0152] If the system determines that the user has not been
authenticated (609), the system authenticates (611) the user
through signing in the user or registering the user. The system
then determines (613) if a sufficient source of payment for the
call is available from the user.
[0153] If there is a sufficient source of payment for the call, the
system accepts the appointment and displays (615) a page to confirm
the appointment. The confirmation page may show confirmation text
including the appointment time and the name of the adviser.
[0154] In one embodiment, after the appointment is made, the system
automatically starts to make connections to the caller and the
callee separately at the requested time of the appointment.
Alternatively, the system may reserve a time slot on the schedule
of the callee on behalf of the caller and request the caller to
make a request for a connection at the scheduled time.
Alternatively, the system may request the adviser (callee) to make
the request for the connection. For example, the system may
determine a less reliable one of the two to make a request for the
connection, or contacting the less reliable one first, during the
appointment time is reached before starting to contact the other
party.
[0155] In FIG. 10, the system displays (601) a landing page for
arranging a call. The landing page may display one or more of the
name, photo, status, rate of the adviser, show stages of operations
to make the appointment, buttons to navigate through the stages,
show the option to mail the adviser.
[0156] The system receives (703) a user selection of whether to
accept a callback, to make an appointment, or both.
[0157] If the user selection includes making an appointment,
operation 707 or operation 709 is performed to set up an
appointment (e.g., according to the process illustrated in FIG.
9).
[0158] If the user selection includes accepting a callback, the
system receives (711) user input to identify the user and the call
back phone number of the user and determines whether the user has
been authenticated (713). If the user has not yet been
authenticated, the system authenticates (715) the user (e.g.,
through signing in the user or registering the user).
[0159] After the user is authenticated, the system determines (717)
if a sufficient source of payment for the call is available (e.g.,
to filter out non-serious callers). The system then displays a page
to confirm the arrangement (e.g., confirmation text including the
time window and the name of the adviser).
[0160] FIG. 11 shows an example to authenticate the user. In FIG.
11, after the system starts (801) to authenticate the user, the
system determines (803) if there is information to indicate that
the user is a member. The information may be in a cookie in the
browser of the user, or a parameter encoded in an URL (universal
resource locator) of a link, or a parameter in an applet running in
the web browser.
[0161] If the user is a member (805), the system displays (811) a
sign-in page which may include entries to receive a username and a
password from the user. In one embodiment, the sign-in page may
optionally further include the photo of the adviser, text alerting
the user about the connection to the adviser, the rate to talk to
the adviser, etc. Thus, the sign-in appears to be in the
environment of the adviser. The system then authenticates (813) the
user using the username and password received in the sign-in
page.
[0162] If the user is not a member (805), the system displays (807)
a registration page. The registration page may include information
already collected about the user (e.g., during the interaction
before the registration) for confirmation purpose. The registration
page includes entries to receive username and password of the user.
In one embodiment, the registration page may optionally further
include the photo of the adviser, text alerting the user about the
connection to the adviser, the rate to talk to the adviser, etc.
Thus, the registration appears to be in the environment of the
adviser. The system then creates (809) an account for the user
using the information received from the registration page.
[0163] In one embodiment, after the user is authenticated,
information is created to indicate that the user is authenticated
for a valid session (e.g., using a cookie, a parameter in URL or in
an applet) until the session expires or the user signs off.
[0164] FIG. 12 shows an example to determine if a sufficient source
of payment of the call is available.
[0165] After the system starts (821) to determine if a sufficient
source of payment for the call is available, the system determines
(823) whether the call is charged by per interval (e.g., per
minute). If the call is charged by per interval, the system
determines (825) the minimum charge for the call (e.g., for one
minute). If the call is not charged by per interval, the system
determines (827) the price for a call package (e.g., $100 for 1
hour, as specified by the adviser).
[0166] The system then determines whether there is enough money in
the account of the user (829) and/or whether there is an active
credit card of the user is on file (839 and 831).
[0167] If the account of the user has enough money for the call
and/or an active credit card of the user is not on file, the system
optionally requests (841) for the credit card information and the
associated billing address for security reason.
[0168] If the account of the user does not have enough money for
the call, the system will pre-authorize (837) an amount according
the requirement of the call for deposit purpose. If an active
credit card of the user is on file, the system optionally presents
(833) an option to update the credit card information. If no active
credit card of the user is on file, the system requests (835)
credit card information and billing address for
pre-authorization.
[0169] In one embodiment, when information identifying the user is
available (e.g., through a "cookie" implemented in the web browser
or parameters encoded in the URL, or parameters stored in the
variables of an applet running in the web browser, etc.), the
system uses the information about the user to help the user. For
example, from the member information database, the system may
retrieve the phone numbers of the user. If there are multiple phone
numbers for the user, a combo box is displayed for the user to
select one from the known phone numbers of the user (or to type in
a different one). If there is only one known phone number of the
user, the system may display the known phone number of the user in
an entry box as the default value.
[0170] If a user as identified by the information (e.g., cookie) is
different from the current user, the current user can choose to
edit the information and/or sign in as a different user.
[0171] In one embodiment, a user can enter the input information to
set up a call, such as the call window and/or the callback phone
number before the user is authenticated. When the user is
subsequently authenticated (e.g., through signing in as an existing
member or registering as a new member), the information provided by
the user before the authentication process is used to update the
account information (if changed).
[0172] FIG. 13 illustrates a method to display a call button
according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0173] In one embodiment, the appearance of a call button is
displayed according to the current availability status of the
adviser to take the call.
[0174] For example, in FIG. 13, when the system receives (851) a
request to display a call button of an adviser, the system
determines (853) the current status of the adviser (at the time of
the request). After the system determines (855) an appearance of
the call button of the adviser to indicate the status of the
adviser, the system presents (857) the call button of the adviser
with the appearance to indicate the status of the adviser.
[0175] In one embodiment, the system further determines (859)
(e.g., periodically) the current status of the adviser to update
(861) the appearance of the button according the currently status
of the adviser.
[0176] For example, the call button to be inserted in the blog of
the callee can include an image at a URL on a server computer. When
being requested the URL causes the server computer to determine a
response based on the parameters encoded in the URL. For example,
the URL can be pointing to a CGI (Common Gateway Interface) program
which provides or generates the image according to the current
status of the adviser. The URL may include a parameter to identify
the adviser and/or the advertisement.
[0177] For example, when the current status of the adviser is
"Taking Calls Now", the call button may show a telephone with text
"Call Now"; when the current status of the adviser is "Taking Calls
Shortly", the call button may show an off-hook telephone with text
"Arrange a Call"; when the current status of the adviser is "Not
Taking Calls for a While", the call button may show a telephone and
a calendar with text "Appointment".
[0178] In one embodiment, different types of availability status of
a callee (adviser) includes: on call, off call, busy, get in line,
schedule an appointment, join conference, etc. It is understood
that different systems may implement more or less types of
availability status of a callee. Further, the call button may
include other current status information about the callee, such as
price, how many people are in line to call the callee, the schedule
of the callee, and/or others.
[0179] In one embodiment, the call button is implemented using an
applet running in the browser of the user. The applet displays the
call button according to the current status of the adviser and
checks the status of the adviser periodically to update the
appearance of the button. In one embodiment, when an estimated time
until which the adviser can take the call is available (e.g.,
received in the system from the adviser when the system attempts to
contact the adviser, or provided by the adviser when the adviser is
talking to a different user, etc.), the call button also shows an
indication of such an estimated time to help the user in selecting
a time window.
[0180] Alternatively, the call button may be implemented in custom
applications (e.g., as plug-in to web browsers, email clients,
etc., or as stand-along applications). The call button may
communicate with the server using a special purpose protocol.
[0181] In one embodiment, a web/email (document) authoring tool is
designed to automatically detect the phone number of the callee in
a web page/email/document. The authoring tool can be set up to
replace the phone number of the callee with the corresponding call
button assigned to the callee and/or the phone number (e.g., ether
phone number) that is assigned to the callee. For example, the
authoring tool can detect the occurrence of the phone number of the
callee in the document and prompt the user of the authoring tool to
replace the phone number of the callee with the call button and/or
the phone number assigned by the system. If the user accepts the
suggestion, the authoring tool automatically replace the phone
number of the callee with the call button and/or the phone number
assigned by the system.
[0182] FIG. 14 illustrates a method to monitor and control a
connection according to one embodiment of the present
invention.
[0183] In FIG. 14, after the system connects (871) a user to an
adviser, the system determines (875) whether the current call is
within a time window of a previously purchased call package (e.g.,
a year or 4 hours).
[0184] In one embodiment, a call is considered a continuation of
the previously purchased call package if the current call is within
the time window. Thus, if the call of a previously purchased call
package is interrupted, the user can continue the call within the
time window without having to purchase another package.
[0185] Based on whether or not the current call is the continuation
of a previous call (877), the system determines (879) the time
limit according to the previously purchased call package, or
determines (881) the purchased minutes of the call package for the
current call. The system then monitors (883) the call until the
time limit for the current call is reached. When the time limit for
the call is reached, the system alerts (885) the user and the
adviser about the end of the time limit.
[0186] In one embodiment, the continuation policy specified by the
adviser is retrieved (887) to process the call at the end of the
time limit.
[0187] If the continuation policy (889) is "purchase a further
package", the system prompts (891) the user to purchase the next
package to remain connected. For example, the user may be offered
to continue the call at the price of $50 for another 30
minutes.
[0188] If the continuation policy (889) is "continue at a per
minute price", the system prompts (895) the user to accept the
continuation at the per minute price.
[0189] If the continuation policy (889) is "no longer charge", the
system maintain (897) the connection for the user and the adviser
until at least one of the user and the adviser hangs up.
[0190] If the continuation policy (889) is "end call", the system
disconnects (893) the user and the adviser after altering the user
and the adviser.
[0191] In one embodiment, the system stores a replication of the
policy of the package the user purchased with the records of the
purchased call (e.g., the policy at the time the call button is
selected for the call package, or at the time the user is first
connected to the adviser for the call package, or at the time the
user explicitly confirms the purchase of the call package, etc.).
Thus, the adviser is free to change the listing for the future
callers even before the users finish the purchased call packages
without retroactively affecting the purchased calls.
[0192] Some of the above examples are in the context of telephonic
conversations. From this description, it will be understood that
the techniques for connecting people for real time communications
can also be applied to other types of communications, such as video
and other multimedia channels, chat, instant messaging, document
sharing, or screen-sharing, common "whiteboarding," interactive TV
or internet TV, etc. Each of different multimedia channels can have
different prices or be inclusive in one price (e.g., the use of
part or all of the different channels can be included in the same
price).
[0193] The real time communication may be on a one-to-one basis
(e.g., one caller connected to one callee). The real time
communication can also be in the form of one-to-many. For example,
the seller may be hosting a conference in which multiple callers
may attend. For example, 100 people can be in the same call or the
same video session provided by the same seller.
[0194] Further, in one embodiment, the real time communication may
include access to recorded sessions (e.g., recorded audio content
and/or recorded video content).
[0195] Thus, the system on the whole may be used as a filter for
sellers (callees), only letting in calls from people who are
serious--they're serious because they have entered their credit
card and are willing to pay. Celebrities can use the system. For
example, people want to talk to the Oakland A's from the 70's, who
are sitting on their porches these days. For example, Hollywood
executives can use the system to hear pitches from scriptwriters
who are willing to pay $1000 for the chance to pitch their
script.
[0196] In one embodiment, these call buttons and the Ether phone
numbers go to where the action is happening. In at least one
embodiment of the present invention, it is recognized that not all
service commerce will happen through marketplaces, such as keen.com
or a search engine. People who want to talk to the Oakland A's
players are more likely the visitor of the web site
www.oaklandathletics.com--and that's where the call buttons can be
very effective. And the Ether phone numbers can be in magazines,
underneath photographs, in newspapers, on business cards, etc.
[0197] In one embodiment, the current status of the callee (e.g.,
availability, schedule, etc.) and guidance and instructions for the
phone connection are provided through the appearance of the call
button and the content of the call graphic. Alternatively or in
combination, the status information, guidance and instructions can
also be presented based using an interactive voice response (IVR)
system.
[0198] For example, a talk radio station may have a guest on every
day at a noon talk show. After the one-hour show, the radio
announcer may say, "The time is up on our show. We've enjoyed
talking with Dr. Webber and answering your calls. If you'd like to
talk further with Dr. Webber, go to our website at WKBR.com and set
up a conversation with him. Or, just dial the number 1-800-TALK-KBR
and get in line. It's just $29 per 10-minute conversation."
[0199] In this example scenario, the phone number 1-800-TALK-KBR is
assigned to Dr. Webber, which can be used to achieve many of the
same goals as the call button assigned to Dr. Webber. While the
button can visually communicate to the user the current (e.g.,
real-time) availability of the callee, the price, how many people
are in line already, the schedule of the callee, etc., telephony
prompts on a interactive voice response (IVR) system can also be
used to provide such information after the caller dials the phone
number that is assigned to the callee.
[0200] For example, in one embodiment, after a caller dials the
phone number 1-800-TALK-KBR, the call is connected to a server,
which determines that the call is for Dr. Webber since the phone
number 1-800-TALK-KBR is assigned to (associated with) Dr. Webber.
The server can then determine the current status of Dr. Webber,
including the availability status, the price for the package, etc.,
and provide the information to the caller through the IVR system.
In one embodiment, the server prompts options according to the
current availability status of Dr. Webber. For example, the server
may offer an immediate connection when Dr. Webber is available for
immediate talk, or an opportunity to input a callback time window
and/or callback phone number when Dr. Webber is expected to be
available in a short period of time, or an opportunity to schedule
an appointment with Dr. Webber when Dr. Webber is not expected to
be available in a short period of time, etc. The server may use the
IVR system to inform the caller the current status of the
connection process and to provide instructions to the caller to
take actions, such as providing a callback time window, providing
an appointment time, providing an indication to accept the price of
the call package, etc.
[0201] In one embodiment, the status information, instruction and
guidance are provided using a combination of graphical
presentations (e.g., over a graphical user interface terminal) and
voice prompts (e.g., through an IVR system).
[0202] In one embodiment, the callee (seller) charges the caller(s)
for the real time communication. The system provides the service to
arrange and connect the call. The system can collect the payment
from the caller(s), deduct a portion of the payment as fees to
provide the service, and deliver the remaining payment to the
callee (seller).
[0203] Alternatively, the callers may be not required to pay for
the call; and the callee (e.g., advertisers) may pay the system for
the service. In this case, the system may not provide the filtering
functionality based on the willingness of the callers to pay.
However, the callees (e.g., the advertisers) can still enjoy other
benefits from the service provided by the system, such as call
scheduling (no night calls), call queuing, toll-free number, local
phone number, click-to-call, etc.
[0204] In one embodiment, the call buttons and the phone numbers
assigned to the callees can also be published in advertisements in
marketplaces, online or offline, on behalf of the callees; the
callees bid for changes of the publicity and pay the bid amount on
a per call basis for calls generated by the advertisements. When
the callees generate the phone lead from their own media channel,
the callees are only charged for a flat fee for the service of
making the connection. Thus, in one embodiment, the system tracks
the media channels that lead the caller to make the call.
[0205] FIG. 15 shows a diagram of a system to assist and track
connections according to one embodiment of the present
invention.
[0206] In FIG. 15, a database (921) may contain the phone numbers
of target phone A (931), target phone B (933), . . . , target phone
X (939), etc., of callees. Typically, the target phones belong to
the institutions, businesses, individuals, etc, which seek for the
services of embodiments of the present invention.
[0207] The call button and/or phone numbers assigned to the callees
are distributed in various media channels, such as media channel A
(901) (e.g., web server), media channel B (902) (e.g., WAP server),
media channel C (903) (e.g., short messaging service center), media
channel D (904) (e.g., custom server), media channel E (907) (e.g.,
cable television), media channel E (908) (e.g., news press), media
channel G (909) (e.g., radio station), etc.
[0208] In one embodiment of the present invention, the call buttons
and/or the assigned phone numbers, which can be considered as the
encoded phone numbers of the callees, are presented in the
environment specific to the callees, not in the marketplaces that
are specially designed to advertise the callees. Thus, the callees
generate the phone leads on their own media distributions, such as
their web site or blog site.
[0209] Alternatively, or in combination, the call buttons and/or
the assigned phone numbers can also be presented in marketplaces,
such as in listings/directories of services, advertisements in
search results, etc.
[0210] In one embodiment of the present invention, the phone
numbers of the target phones are not directly publicized over the
media channels. Instead, encoded target phone numbers (923) are
used. Using the encoded target phone numbers (923), a user cannot
reach target phones directly. Using the encoded target phone
numbers (923), a user reaches a server of the system first, which
allows the system to provide various services before actually
connecting the user to the callee, such as filtering, payment
processing, etc.
[0211] The encoded target phone numbers (923) allow the association
of additional information with the target phone numbers, such as
the media channels used, special promotions, etc.
[0212] The encoded target phone numbers and/or the call buttons are
delivered with content information (e.g., web page, WAP page, short
message, television programs, news articles, advertisement, blog,
etc.) to user devices, such as user device A (911) (e.g., cellular
phone), user device B (912) (e.g., personal digital assistant
(PDA)), user device C (913) (e.g., computer), user device D (916)
(e.g., receiver), user device E (918) (e.g., newspaper).
[0213] In one embodiment, a user device can include a USB phone, a
Bluetooth wireless phone, or one or more speakers or headphones
with one or microphones for the implementation of a software based
phone.
[0214] In one embodiment, the user devices/phones support one or
more real time communication capabilities, such as VoIP using
Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) which may support video and
instant-messaging applications, IP phone, regular phone over VoIP
service, Bluetooth wireless phone, USB phone, software based phone,
and other forms of IP telephony.
[0215] In one embodiment, the user device can include a television
set to receive the advertisement. Further, the television set may
have the capability to accept user input so that the television
content may be changed according to the user input (e.g.,
interactive television, web television, internet television, etc.),
or be coupled with a set top box which has such capability. The
user input may be provided to the content provider through the same
communication channel in which the television content/programs are
delivered (e.g., a cable system of a cable television system), or a
separate channel (e.g., a phone line, an Internet connection,
etc.). The user input may include a request to make a connection to
an advertiser featured in an advertisement presented in a
television program, such as a request for a telephonic connection
to the advertiser.
[0216] In one embodiment, the user devices are mobile devices, such
as PDA, cellular phone, etc. The user devices obtain content
information, including advertisements, through wireless
communication connections, such as cellular communication links,
wireless access points for wireless local area network, etc.
[0217] In one embodiment, a user device (e.g., a cellular phone, a
computer, a PDA) can receive content information from multiple
types of media channels (e.g., a web server, a WAP server, an SMSC,
etc.).
[0218] In one embodiment, a user device is capable of dialing a
phone call (e.g., automatically according to the encoded phone
number embedded in the content information when a user selects the
number). Alternatively, a user may manually dial a phone call using
a separate phone, such as user phone S (917) or user phone T
(919).
[0219] In one embodiment, a user device (e.g., 911, 912, 193) is
capable of rendering the call button and sending a message to the
communication server(s) (929) when the call button is activated.
The call button includes an identifier of the callee so that when
the call button is activated the user devices communicates the
identifier of the callee to the server(s) (929).
[0220] In one embodiment, the user device (e.g., 911) is further
capable of automatically identifying a phone number of the caller,
or a VoIP identifier of the caller, as a callback number.
Alternatively, the user device (e.g., 911, 912, 913) is capable of
communicating with the server(s) (929) to present user interfaces
to receive the callback number and other parameters, such as the
callback time window.
[0221] In one embodiment of the present invention, dialing at least
a portion of an encoded target phone number connects the phone call
to a phone decoder and router (925) first. According to the encoded
target phone number dialed, the phone decoder and router (925)
determines the corresponding target phone number using the database
(921) and connects the phone call to the corresponding target phone
(e.g., one of target phones 931-939) through the telephone network
(927).
[0222] Note the telephone network (927) may be circuit switched,
package switched, or partially circuit switched and partially
package switched. For example, the telephone network may partially
use the Internet to carry the phone call (e.g., through VoIP). For
example, the connection between the user phone/device and the phone
decoder and router (925) may be carried using VoIP; and the
connection between the phone decoder and router (925) may be
carried using a land-line based, circuit switched telephone
network.
[0223] In one embodiment of the present invention, the information
associated with the encoded target phone number, such as the media
channel used to provide the encoded target phone number to the
users, is also decoded/retrieved using the database (921). Thus,
the information associated with the encoded target phone number can
be tracked/stored.
[0224] In one embodiment, the phone decoder and router (925) also
determines the phone number of the user through Automatic Number
Identification (ANI). ANI is a phone system feature that provides
the billing number of the person making the phone call.
[0225] The information about the caller, target phone number, the
media channel used for delivering the contact information to the
user can be used to bill the caller and/or the target phone number,
and provide credit/compensation for the corresponding media
channel.
[0226] For example, the connection to target phone numbers can be
paid for on a pay per call basis. Monitoring and tracking the calls
can be used for billing the callee and/or the caller.
[0227] In one embodiment of the present invention, the additional
information associated with the encoded target phone number is used
to tracking phone calls for conditional promotions, electronic
coupons, etc. Alternatively, the additional information for
conditional promotions, electronic coupons, etc. are retrieved from
the database of the listings at the time the corresponding call
button is activated or presented, or at the time the encoded phone
number is called.
[0228] The information about the media channels that are
responsible for leading the users to the phone calls to the target
phones can also be useful for the advisers. The advisers may wish
to know which media channel is more effective in reaching
users.
[0229] In one embodiment of the present invention, an encoded
target phone number has the same number of digits as a standard
phone number (e.g., a typical telephone number assigned by a
telephone company). Thus, dialing the encoded target phone number
is as easy as dialing the target phone number; and dialing the
target phone number reaches the phone decoder and router (925). In
such an arrangement, a large number of encoded phone numbers are
generally required to differentiate the different target phones and
different media channels.
[0230] In one embodiment of the present invention, an encoded
target phone number has more digits than a standard phone number
(e.g., having an extension to the standard phone number). A first
portion of the encoded target phone number has the same number of
digits as a standard phone number to reach the phone decoder and
router (925) through the telephone network (927); and a second
portion of the encoded target phone number (e.g., the extension) is
to be decoded by the phone decoder and router (925). For example,
the Dual Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF) decoder can be installed in
the phone decoder and router (925) to detect the second portion of
the encoded target phone number dialed at the user phone. The
detected phone number can then be used to recover the target phone
number.
[0231] In one embodiment of the present invention, a single
telephone number is used to reach the phone decoder and router
(925) for different target phone numbers; and the portion of the
encoded target phone number that is used to reach the phone decoder
and router (925) is not used in determining the information
associated with the encoded target phone number.
[0232] Alternatively, multiple telephone numbers can be used to
reach the phone decoder and router (925); and the entire encoded
target phone number can be used to determine the information
associated with the encoded target phone number.
[0233] In one embodiment of the present invention, the encoded
target phone numbers can have different numbers of digits. The
callees may be arranged to bid for shorter encoded target phone
numbers.
[0234] In one embodiment, a look-up table approach is used to
encode the information. For example, the database (921) keeps track
of the information about the media channel and the target phone
number (and other information, if any) for the encoded target phone
number so that the encoded target phone number can be used as a key
to retrieve the corresponding information. Thus, it is not
necessary to have a predetermined structure to encode the
information about the media channels and the target phone
number.
[0235] Alternatively, algorithms can be used to generate and encode
target phone number and associated information. For example, a
predetermined algorithm may be used to encode different information
in the target phone number. For example, the target phone number
may include a number of field separated by "*" or "#". Each of the
field can be decoded separately (e.g., from a separate look up
table or a mapping algorithm) to determine the target phone number,
identity of the media channel, etc.
[0236] For example, a set of parameters can be mapped from a string
of characters to a string of numerical digits as a part of the
encoded target phone number; and the string of numbers can be
mapped back into the string of characters at the phone decoder and
router (925). When such a mapping scheme is used, a look up table
is not necessary. For example, an encoded target phone number may
include a first portion that is the phone number of the phone
decoder and router (925), a second portion that is the target phone
number appended with other parameters. To prevent revealing the
target phone number and the parameters, an encryption/scrambling
scheme can be used to encode the second portion, which is decoded
at the phone decoder and router (925).
[0237] In one embodiment, the phone decoder and router (925)
determines the target phone number from the encoded target phone
number dialed by the user and then dials the target phone number
for the user and joins the phone calls so that the user can talk to
the target phone.
[0238] In one embodiment, the communication server(s) (929)
determines the target phone number from the message sent from the
user devices when the call button is pressed.
[0239] In one embodiment of the present invention, users dial the
encoded target phone numbers manually. A user can dial the encoded
target phone number regardless the user device used and the media
channel used.
[0240] Alternatively, in one embodiment, user devices can
automatically dial the encoded target phone numbers. For example, a
cellular phone, a computer or a PDA can dial a phone number using a
Dual Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF) generator. In one embodiment of
the present invention, the encoded target phone numbers are
presented in the content information in a format such that when the
user selects the phone number the user device (e.g., a cellular
phone or a computer) dials the encoded target phone number for the
user. The user selection may be in the form of an keyboard/keypad
input, a touch pad input, a track ball input, a mouse input, a
voice command, etc.
[0241] In one embodiment, the user device initiates the phone call
through a VoIP system when the user selects the encoded target
phone number. Alternatively, the system initiates the VoIP
connection to the user device after receiving the message from the
user device requesting the phone connection.
[0242] In one embodiment of the present invention, the user device
dials the phone number for the user without the user manually press
the sequence of the encoded target phone numbers. This greatly
simplifies the process of make the phone call. Since a user device
can dial a long sequence of number easily, a large number of digits
can be used to encode the information without presenting any
difficulties for the users.
[0243] In one embodiment of the present invention, the encoded
target phone numbers are formatted so that the user device dials a
first portion of the encoded target phone numbers to access the
phone decoder and router (925), pauses for a short period of time
for the phone decoder and router (925) to prepare for receiving the
second portion of the encoded target phone numbers, and then dials
the second portion of the encoded target phone numbers. Thus, the
user device provides a user-friendly way of dialing the encoded
target phone numbers; and, making the phone call can be as easy as
making a "click" to access a web page.
[0244] In FIG. 15, the user device initiates the phone call.
Alternatively, a phone router may be used to initiate phone calls
both to the user device (or a separate user phone) and the target
phone and then join the phone calls to connect the user to the
target phone. For example, when the user selects the call button,
the encoded target phone number is transmitted to the communication
server(s) (929), which can instruct the phone decoder and router
(925) to initiate the phone calls.
[0245] The user phone number can be automatically determined
through ANI, or through a user preference setting, or through an
entry submitted with the selection of the encoded target phone
number (e.g., the call button).
[0246] In one embodiment, the selection of the encoded target phone
number is transmitted to the corresponding media channel, which
forwards the request for making the phone call to a server (e.g., a
web server) connected to the phone router. Alternatively, the
content information can be formatted so that the selection is sent
directly to the server that is connected to the phone router.
[0247] When the router starts the phone calls, the encoded target
phone number can also include alphabetic characters (and/or other
characters). The server and/or the phone router can decode the
encoded target phone number to recover/retrieve the target phone
number and other associated information, such as the identity of
the media channel that is creditable for providing the encoded
target phone number to user.
[0248] In one embodiment, the user devices/phones support one or
more real time communication capabilities, such as VoIP using
Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) which may support video and
instant-messaging applications, IP phone, regular phone over VoIP
service, Bluetooth wireless phone, USB phone, software based phone,
and other forms of IP telephony.
Provide Communication Connections
[0249] One embodiment of the present invention enables a partner to
offer communication references for entities (e.g., in online
marketplace, voice portal, advertisement placement, etc.) such that
real-time communication connections to the entities can be
established when the communication references are used to request
for the communication connections.
[0250] For example, a marketer may operate a web site to promote
sellers (e.g., advisors, advertisers), an online marketplace,
and/or a voice portal. The marketer has the contact information of
the sellers, such as phone numbers. The marketer may not have the
facilities to track the phone calls to the phone numbers of the
sellers. As a partner of a connection provider, the marketer may
provide the contact information of the sellers to the connection
provider and obtain links and/or custom 800 numbers that can be
used by the customers of the marketer to at least initiate the
real-time communication connections to the sellers. For example,
when a customer of the marketer selects the link, or dials the 800
number, that is assigned for a seller of the marketer, the
connection provider makes an arrangement to connect the customer to
the corresponding seller using the contact information of the
seller. Thus, the marketer does not have to maintain separate
facilities to track the phone calls and make the phone connections;
and the connection provider can provide the service to different
marketers.
[0251] Further, in one embodiment, responsive to the establishment
of the connection between the customer and the seller, the
connection provider may further charge the customer a fee on behalf
of the seller for purchasing from the seller (e.g., purchasing a
period of real-time communication with the seller and/or
products/services offered over the communication connection) and/or
charge the seller on behalf of the marketer a fee for the
advertisement presented by the marketer. The connection provider
may further distribute the charged fee to the marketer and/or to
the seller directly or indirectly via the marketer. Thus, the
marketer may delegate a payment processing task associated with
tracking and providing communication connections to the connection
provider. Alternatively, the marketer may perform the payment
processing tasks based on the information about the communication
connections tracked and provided by the connection provider.
[0252] In one embodiment, a connection provider may enable a
marketer to focus on the aspect of matching customers and sellers
and delegate to the connection provider the tasks of providing
communication connections, tracking the communication connections,
collecting fees, and/or distributing payments.
[0253] In one embodiment, a marketer may use the services of a
connection provider to operate an online marketplace and voice
portal. The services of the connection provider may be behind the
scene and/or customized for the marketer such that the customers of
the marketer may not be aware of that part of the services is from
the connection provider which may be an entity different from the
marketer.
[0254] FIG. 16 illustrates a system to provide communication
connections according to one embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 16, sellers (1009) provide (1015) their contact information
to the media database (1005). The media database (1005) may also
include other information that is used by the media channel (1007)
to present the sellers (1009) to the medial channel users
(1011).
[0255] In FIG. 16, the contact information of the sellers is not
provided to the media channel users (1011). Instead, a
communication reference can be assigned to the contact information
of a seller and provided (1013) to the media channel user (1011)
via the media channel (1007). The media database (1005) and the
connection database (1003) exchange (1017) communication reference
and contact information of the sellers. The connection server
(1001) is used to connect the sellers and the media channel users
(1011). Using the communication reference, a media channel user may
request for a connection with the corresponding seller. The
connection server (1001) determines the contact information based
on the communication reference used to make the request.
[0256] For example, using the contact information looked up
according to the communication reference, the connection server
(1001) makes a connection with the seller and then connects the
media channel user and the seller (e.g., through forwarding
communications across the connection server).
[0257] In one embodiment, the media channel (1007) and the media
database (1005) may be operated by a marketer; and the connection
database and the connection server (1001) may be operated by a
connection provider. The marketer and the connection provider may
communicate with each other electronically to exchange (1017) the
communication reference and contact information.
[0258] The communication reference may be a representation of a
user interface element, such as a link, an icon, a button (e.g., in
HTML or a script), which can be rendered in a browser and selected
to send the request to the connection server. The communication
reference may include an identifier to represent a seller or a
record of the contact information of the seller. For example, the
identifier may be a seller identifier that can be used to look up
the seller and then determine a phone number of the seller from
information about the seller. For example, the identifier may be a
record identifier that points to a record in the connection
database (1003); and the record includes a phone number of the
seller. For example, the communication reference may be an Ether
button assigned to the seller.
[0259] The communication reference may be a phone number of the
connection server (1001). The phone number may or may not include
an extension that is to be dialed after the connection server
(1001) picks up the call from the medial channel user. The phone
number can be used as a seller identifier or a record identifier to
look up the phone number of the corresponding seller. The phone
number may be a toll free number (e.g., an 800 number) or a phone
number local to a geographic area (e.g., an area in which the media
channel users are located).
[0260] In one embodiment, the media database (1005) can provide the
contact information of the seller (e.g., the phone number of the
seller) to the connection database (1003) and update the contact
information of the seller according to the input for the seller.
Thus, a copy of the contact information of the seller is
stored/cached in the connection database (1003). The connection
provider may alternatively request the contact information
corresponding to a communication reference from the media database
in real time and/or cache the information (e.g., for a session, for
a predetermined period of time).
[0261] In one embodiment, the connection database (1003) can
provide the media database the communication reference for a
specific seller (or a specific contact information entry of the
seller). The media database (1005) may request the communication
reference at a setup time for the seller so that the entry of the
seller is properly set up and the media channel may use the entry
to present the seller (e.g., in response to a search request, in
response to a request to show the listing of a specific category,
in response to a placement of an advertisement in a web page, etc.)
The media database (1005) may alternatively request the
communication reference on demand (e.g., when the media channel
receives a request for a display of the seller).
[0262] In one embodiment, a connection server may provide
connection services for multiple marketers who operate different
media channels (e.g., web pages, newspapers, magazines, television
broadcasting systems, bill boards, etc.). A communication reference
may further include an identifier that can be used to identify the
corresponding marketer. Thus, the connection server may use the
identifier to contact the marketer for information about the seller
(e.g., availability status, contact information) and/or provide
credit/compensation to the marketer.
[0263] In one embodiment, a button representation of the
communication reference may show the current status of the seller
to engage in real time communication with the media channel user.
At the time the button is rendered in the web browser, the web
browser further downloads information about the current status of
the seller to determine the appearance of the button. Thus, before
the button is selected by the user, the user may see an indication
of availability of the seller to accept the call. Since the status
information is downloaded at the time of the rendering of the
button, the current status of the seller is displayed. Further, the
button may be configured to periodically check for updated status
information.
[0264] The media channel and the media database may obtain the
current status information about the seller at the time the
representation of the button is downloaded. The status information
at the time of downloading the web page may be hardwired within the
representation of the button.
[0265] Alternatively, the marketer may redirect the communication
related to the status of the seller to the connection providers
such that the current status information is maintained in the
connection database (1003).
[0266] The connection provider may further provide the status
information after the communication reference is used to request
for a communication connection to the seller. For example, a call
graphic may be presented to guide the media channel user through
the connection operations; and the call graphic may include the
current status information about the seller. For example, when the
media channel user uses the phone number of the connection server
to request the connection, the connection server may use an IVR
system to tell the media channel user about the current status of
the seller.
[0267] In one embodiment, the connection database (1005) obtains
the status information from the sellers (1009). For example, when
the sellers (1009) visit a web page of the marketer, the web page
redirects the sellers (1009) to a server of the connection
provider, which allows the sellers to specify the scheduled times
for receiving communications and/or current changes to the
availability statuses. The redirected web page may be displayed in
a popup window so that the sellers do not have to leave the context
of the web page provided by the marketer. For example, when a
seller clicks on a link or icon to specify a change to the current
availability status on an account management page provided by the
marketer, the browser of the seller may bring up a popup window and
direct the request to the web site of the marketer, which sends a
redirect message to redirect the request to a web site of the
connection provider, which then provides a web page for display in
the popup window to collect the information related to
availability, including work hours, etc. Thus, the status
information is collected by the web site of the connection provider
in the context of a web page of the marketer. The connection
database may obtain the status information through communication
with the media database (1005).
[0268] The price information may be specified in a web site of the
connection provider or a web site of the marketer. For example, the
marketer may redirect the task of managing price bidding to the
connection provider. The connection provider may show the price
information of competitors of the seller and receive a price bid
from the seller. The price bid is stored in the connection database
and/or provided to the marketer through a communication channel
between the connection provider and the marketer.
[0269] Alternatively, for example, the marketer may manage the
price bidding and stored the price information in the media
database (e.g., for storing and selecting the sellers for display
to the medial channel users). The price information may be
forwarded to the connection database (1003). The connection server
may use the price information to ask the user to confirm the
purchase of a period of time of real time communication with a
seller who provides information, entertainment, advice over the
communication connection (e.g., before the user is connected to the
seller), or charge the user and/or the seller according to the
price information (e.g., for the purchase of advice, or for the
advertisement for the seller).
[0270] For example, the marketer may redirect the management of
call packages to the connection provider, or provide custom web
pages to manage the call packages and communicate the call package
information to the connection database (1003).
[0271] The connection server may manage an aspect of payment
process for the marketer. For example, the connection server may
collect fees from the media channel users based on the call
packages purchased by the users (e.g., charging a credit account, a
bank account or an online payment account) and/or distribute
compensations to the sellers for the call packages sold to the
users. The connection server may further manage accounts of the
sellers and the users for the purposes of conducting financial
transactions on behalf of the marketer. Thus, the marketer may be
freed from the burden of managing some of the financial
transactions.
[0272] Alternatively, for example, the marketer may process the
financial transactions with the users and sellers, after the
connection server reports the information about the communication
connections to the marketer, such as the date and time of the
connection and the duration, etc. The connection server can use the
communication references to identify the sellers in collecting the
information related to the communication connections.
[0273] The connection server may communicate with the marketer to
authenticate the media channel user. For example, the connection
server may verify with the marketer that the media channel user is
a registered user of the marketer so that the user may be charged
accordingly.
[0274] In one embodiment, the connection server may collect the
credit card account information (or bank account information, or
other types of accounts) and forward the account information to the
marketer so that the marketer may charge the user. Alternatively,
the connection server may charge the user on behalf of the
marketer.
[0275] In some types of services, the media channel users (1011)
may or may not be charged for the communication. For example, the
sellers may use the media channel to present advertisements to the
media channel users; the sellers may be charged for the
advertisement (e.g., in response to the connection); and the media
channel users are not charged. Further, for example, the sellers
may reward the channel users (1011) for having a phone connection
with them to listen to their advertisement information. In another
embodiment, for example, the sellers may charge the media channel
users for a period of communication over the connection to receive
information, entertainment, advice, etc. Thus, it may or may not
necessary to identify the media channel users and determine their
account information. The communication reference may include an
indication of the type of information to be collected by the
connection server.
[0276] From the above discussion, one understands that the marketer
may delegate more or less of the tasks related to the establishment
of the connection and payment processing to the connection
provider.
[0277] FIGS. 17-18 illustrate a media database and a connection
database which can be used in a system to provide communication
connections according to one embodiment of the present
invention.
[0278] In FIG. 17, a media database (1030) may include a field
"Seller ID" (1031) to represent a seller. For the seller, the media
database (1030) may include a field to store the phone number
(1033) of the seller. The phone number of the seller is typically
associated with a telephone set of the seller through a telephone
carrier. The phone number of the seller is typically not presented
to the media channel users. Instead, an Ether phone number (1045)
is presented for the seller to the media channel users. The Ether
phone number (1045) may be associated with a telephone equipment of
the connection provider through a telephone carrier. When the Ether
phone number (1045) is dialed, the telephone carrier connects the
call to the telephone equipment of the connection provider, which
can determine the phone number (1033) of the seller based on the
dialed Ether phone number (1045) and further connect (forward) the
call to the seller.
[0279] In one embodiment, the media database (1030) obtains the
Ether phone number (1045) and Ether web reference (1047) (e.g., a
link or a representation of a button) from the connection provider
for the seller.
[0280] The media database may further include the listing content
(1035), listing category (1037), service area (1039), etc. about
the seller. These information can be used by the marketer to
generate a listing for presentation on behalf of the seller.
[0281] The media database may optionally include the price/rate
(1041) for communications with seller, and/or for advertisement
presented on behalf of the seller. The marketer may use the
price/rate (1041) to selectively present sellers and to determine
placement priorities for the sellers.
[0282] The media database may optionally include the service
schedule (1043), such as the work hours during the day and the
week. Using the service schedule (1043), the time period in which
the seller is not available to receive a phone call may be
determined. The media database may communicate the service schedule
(1043) to the connection provider such that the availability status
information can be determined at least partially from the service
schedule (1043); and calls may be scheduled at least partially
according to the service schedule (1043).
[0283] Optionally, some of the data fields may be maintained in a
connection database of a connection provider. When needed, the data
can be fetched from the connection database of the connection
provider through a communication channel between the connection
provider and the marketer.
[0284] In FIG. 18, the connection database (1050) may include a
callee ID (1051) to represent a callee (e.g., seller). The phone
number (1053) of the callee may be stored in the connection
database (1050) in association the Ether phone number (1059) and
the Ether web reference (1061) so that when a request for a
connection is received via the Ether phone number (1059), or the
Ether web reference (1061), the phone number of the callee can be
determined and used to complete the connection. Alternatively, the
phone number (1053) may be retrieved from the marketer (e.g., from
the media database) when the request for connection is received via
the Ether phone number (1059) or the Ether web reference
(1061).
[0285] The connection database (1050) may further include the
service schedule (1055), such as the work hours during the day and
the week, and the availability status (1057) which may be changed
in real time based on the information received from the callee. For
example, the callee may use a communication channel (e.g., a web
page) to specify the current availability status. Further, when the
connection server establishes a separate phone connection with the
callee, the callee may indicate the availability status to the IVR
system of the connection provider.
[0286] The connection database (1050) may further include the price
package (1063) which may be specified by the callee (1051). The
connection provider may use the price package information to make
charges on behalf of the marketer (or the callee).
[0287] The callee ID may also be associated with a partner ID
(1065) which may represent the marketer. Thus, the connection
provider may report the data related to connections to the
corresponding marketer and/or compensate the corresponding
marketer.
[0288] The connection database (1050) may include entries to record
the connection activities. For example, a call ID (1071) may be
used to represent a phone call. Callee ID (1073) indicates the
seller that is being called in the phone call. Call time (1075)
indicates the date and time of the call. Call duration (1077)
indicate the time period of the phone connection between the seller
and the caller. Callback number (1079) shows the callback number of
the caller. Optionally, an entry for a connection may further
include other information, such as the identity of the caller,
credit card number of the caller, a callback time window specified
by the caller, etc.
[0289] FIGS. 19-20 show flow diagrams of methods to provide
communication connections according to embodiments of the present
invention.
[0290] In FIG. 19, contact information about an entity is received
(1101) from a partner; and a communication reference usable to at
least initiate a request for a communication connection is provided
(1103) to the partner. In response to that a request initiated via
the communication reference presented by the partner is received
(1105) for a communication connection, the communication connection
to the entity is provided (1107) using the contact information.
[0291] In FIG. 20, a connection provider receives (1121) a phone
number of a seller from a partner and provides (1123) the partner
with a link and a phone number of a connection system which can be
used to request a phone connection to the seller. The partner
presents (1125) the link and the phone number of the connection
system to customers. Once a customer selects the link, or dials the
phone number of the connection system, to request a phone
connection to the seller (1127), the connection provider receives
(1129) the request from the customer for a phone connection to the
seller and arranges (1131) a phone connection between the seller
and the customer using the phone number of the seller.
[0292] The connection provider may charge (1133) a fee responsive
to the phone connection between the seller and the customer and pay
(1135) a portion of the fee to the partner. The customer may be
charged for purchasing a period of phone communication with the
seller; and within a period of time a customer may be reconnected
to the seller with a further fee before the purchased period of
phone communication elapses or expires. Alternatively, the seller
may be charged for an advertisement presented by the partner on a
per call basis, excluding repeated calls from the same customer
made within a period of time. The phone connection may be partially
carried via a VoIP system.
[0293] FIG. 21 shows a block diagram example of a data processing
system which may be used with the present invention.
[0294] While FIG. 21 illustrates various components of a computer
system, it is not intended to represent any particular architecture
or manner of interconnecting the components. Other systems that
have fewer or more components may also be used with the present
invention.
[0295] In FIG. 21, the communication device (951) is a form of a
data processing system. The system (951) includes an inter-connect
(952) (e.g., bus and system core logic), which interconnects a
microprocessor(s) (953) and memory (958). The microprocessor (953)
is coupled to cache memory (954) in the example of FIG. 21.
[0296] The inter-connect (952) interconnects the microprocessor(s)
(953) and the memory (958) together and also interconnects them to
a display controller and display device (957) and to peripheral
devices such as input/output (I/O) devices (955) through an
input/output controller(s) (956). Typical I/O devices include mice,
keyboards, modems, network interfaces, printers, scanners, video
cameras and other devices which are well known in the art.
[0297] The inter-connect (952) may include one or more buses
connected to one another through various bridges, controllers
and/or adapters. In one embodiment the I/O controller (956)
includes a USB (Universal Serial Bus) adapter for controlling USB
peripherals, and/or an IEEE-1394 bus adapter for controlling
IEEE-1394 peripherals.
[0298] The memory (958) may include ROM (Read Only Memory), and
volatile RAM (Random Access Memory) and non-volatile memory, such
as hard drive, flash memory, etc.
[0299] Volatile RAM is typically implemented as dynamic RAM (DRAM)
which requires power continually in order to refresh or maintain
the data in the memory. Non-volatile memory is typically a magnetic
hard drive, a magnetic optical drive, or an optical drive (e.g., a
DVD RAM), or other type of memory system which maintains data even
after power is removed from the system. The non-volatile memory may
also be a random access memory.
[0300] The non-volatile memory can be a local device coupled
directly to the rest of the components in the data processing
system. A non-volatile memory that is remote from the system, such
as a network storage device coupled to the data processing system
through a network interface such as a modem or Ethernet interface,
can also be used.
[0301] In one embodiment, a server data processing system as
illustrated in FIG. 21 is used as one of the communication
server(s) (e.g., 929, 925, and/or 921 in FIG. 15, 1019 or 1007 in
FIG. 16).
[0302] Further, a user terminal as a client system can be a data
processing system similar to the system of FIG. 21. A client system
can be in the form of a PDA, a cellular phone, a notebook computer
or a personal desktop computer. For example, the I/O devices of the
user device may include a USB phone, a Bluetooth wireless phone, or
one or more speakers or headphones with one or microphones for the
implementation of a software based phone.
[0303] Alternatively, the traditional communication client(s) may
be used in some embodiments of the present invention.
[0304] From this description, it will be appreciated that certain
aspects of the invention are embodied in the user devices, certain
aspects of the invention are embodied in the server systems, and
certain aspects of the invention are embodied in a system as a
whole.
[0305] Embodiments of the present invention can be implemented
using hardware, programs of instruction, or combinations of
hardware and programs of instructions.
[0306] In one embodiment, a connection provider uses a connection
server configured on a packet switched network to provide telephone
connections between callers (e.g., customers) and callees (e.g.,
advertisers), as illustrated in FIG. 22. In FIG. 22, the connection
server (2207) receives and/or places telephone calls via the
telecommunication carrier (2205) over the packet switched network
(2209). The telecommunication carrier (2205) further routes the
telephone communications towards the caller (2201) and the callee
(2203).
[0307] Since the telecommunication carrier (2205) can route a call
from a packet switched network to a variety of destinations (e.g.,
a traditional analog telephone set, a mobile phone, a cellular
phone, a WiFi phone, a Bluetooth phone, a softphone running on a
computer, etc.), the connection sever (2207) can use one type of
communication connection with the telephone carrier (2205) to
facilitate the communication connections with variety of devices
used by the customers (e.g., callers and callees). Thus, the
implementation of the connection server (2207) can be simplified.
In one embodiment, the connection server (3307) can also place
and/or receive direct VoIP calls to/from the caller (or
callee).
[0308] For example, to make a voice connection in response to a
click-to-call request, the connection server can place separate
VoIP calls, via the telecommunication carrier (2205), to the caller
(2201) (e.g., the requester of the click-to-call) and the callee
(2203) (e.g., the destination of the click-to-call request).
[0309] If the caller (2201) (or the callee 2203) is on a public
switched telephone network (PSTN), the telecommunication carrier
(2205) bridges the packet switched the network and the public
switched telephone network (PSTN). The telecommunication carrier
(2205) routes the call from the packet switched network (2209) to
the caller (2201) (or the callee 2203) on the circuit switched
network. Thus, the caller (2201) (or the callee 2203) can use a
telephone set to receive the call via a Plain Old Telephone Service
(POTS). The connection server (2207) joins the separate calls that
are placed via the packet switched network (2209) to connection the
callee (2203) and the caller (2201).
[0310] In one embodiment, call signaling and media content may use
different network paths. While call signaling is arranged to go
through the packet switched network (2209) and the connection
server (2207), the media stream does not have to go through the
connection server (2207). For example, when the calls are joined,
the media content may be redirected to flow over the communication
carrier (2205) without going through the packet switched network
(2209) to the connection server (2207) for improved performance and
efficiency. The connection server (2207) can release the control
over the media stream to allow the media stream to flow through the
shortest path, without going through the connection server, while
maintaining control to the connection for the call by staying on
the path for call signaling.
[0311] In another example, when the caller (2201) initiates a call
over a PSTN to the connection server (2207), the telecommunication
carrier (2205) converts the call for the packet switched network
(2209) for the connection server (2207).
[0312] In one embodiment, virtual softphones on the
telecommunication carrier (2205) are assigned to the caller (2201)
and the callee (2203) for interfacing with the connection server
(2207) over the packet switched network (2209). The virtual
softphones encapsulates the devices and networks used by the caller
(2201) and callee (2203) to access the connection server (2207);
and the telecommunication carrier (2205) shields the connection
server (2207) from the implementation details of the user devices
and networks used by the caller (2201) and the callee (2203). The
connection server (2207) calls (or receives calls from) and
connects the virtual softphones on the telecommunication carrier
(2205) to connect the caller (2201) and the callee (2203).
[0313] In FIG. 22, the telephone connection between the
telecommunication carrier (2205) and the connection server (2207)
is facilitated via a packet switched network (2209). Thus, the
connection server (2207) can operate efficiently in a digital
domain. The connection server (2207) interfaces with the
telecommunication carrier (2205) using one type of Internet
Telephony systems (e.g., SIP-based Internet telephony).
[0314] Alternatively, a connection server may include some or all
of the functionality of the telecommunication carrier (2205). For
example, the connection server may be configured to bridge a packet
switched network and a circuit switched network. The connection
server may support multiple, different types of Internet Telephony
systems.
[0315] In one embodiment, the connection server (2207) and the
telecommunication carrier (2205) are operated by different,
separate entities. Alternatively, the connection server (2207) and
the telecommunication carrier (2205) may be operated by the same
entity. In another embodiment, the telecommunication carrier (2205)
includes a set of facilities operated by a number of separate
entities.
[0316] In one embodiment, the caller (2201) and/or the callee
(2203) may also place/receive calls via a packet switched network.
The telecommunication carrier (2205) may route the calls between
the caller (2201) and the callee (2203) without using a PSTN. In
one embodiment, caller (2201) and/or the callee (2203) may place
calls to or receive calls from the connection server (2207) via
Internet.
[0317] FIG. 23 shows a connection server according to one
embodiment. In FIG. 23, the connection server (2206) is configured
to place and/or receive VoIP calls using Session Initiation
Protocol (SIP). A session border controller (2301) is used to
interface with the packet switched network (2303) and control the
types of network traffic related to VoIP calls that might go into
the connection server (2305).
[0318] In one embodiment, the session border controller (2206) is
configured to control the signaling and media stream during the
setting up, conducting and tearing down of VoIP calls to or from
the connection server (2305). In some embodiments, the session
border controller (2206) may pick up the call that comes to the
session border controller (2206), places a separate call from the
session border controller (2206), and joins the received call and
the placed call to control both the signaling and media stream. In
some embodiments, the session border controller (2206) may perform
signaling/encoding translation to allow the connection server
(2305) to process the VoIP calls in one standard, while receiving
VoIP calls in a variety of standards (e.g., SIP, H.323, etc.). In
one embodiment, the session border controller (2206) is configured
to perform one or more firewall functionalities, such as denial of
service protection, call filtering, bandwidth management, etc.
[0319] In one embodiment, the session border controller (2206) is
configured to perform media releasing operation. When the session
border controller (2206) determines that the source and destination
of a media stream is on the same side of the session border
controller (2206) (e.g., both the source and the destination of the
media stream is outside the connection server 2305), the session
border controller (2206) can release the hairpining of the media
stream and allow the media stream to flow without going through the
session border controller (2206).
[0320] In FIG. 23, a set of SIP servers (e.g., 2311, 2313, . . . ,
2319) are networked to the session border controller (2301) to
receive messages for incoming calls and to initiate outgoing calls.
The session border controller (2301) is configured to evenly
distribute the calls for processing by the SIP servers.
[0321] For example, when an incoming message for the initiation of
a call is received (e.g., a SIP INVITE message from the
telecommunication carrier 2205), the session border controller
(2301) may route it to a SIP server (e.g., 2311) for processing.
The INVITE message includes the phone number dialed by the caller
and the contact information about the caller (e.g., the phone
number of the caller 2201 and/or the identity of the virtual SIP
phone at the telecommunication carrier 2205).
[0322] The SIP server may determine whether the phone number dialed
by the caller (2203) is sufficient to determine the phone number of
the callee (e.g., 2203). If the phone number of the callee (e.g.,
2203) can be determined from the phone number dialed by the caller
(2203) (e.g., via decoding the phone number dialed by the callee,
or looking up the phone number of the callee from a table using the
phone number dialed by the caller as a key), the SIP server can
place a separate SIP call to the callee via the packet switched
network (2303) and then connect the caller and the callee.
Alternatively, the SIP server can further route the SIP INVITE
message (e.g., to the telecommunication carrier (2205) to direct
the call to the callee. For example, the SIP server may modify the
INVITE message by replacing the destination with the determined
phone number of the callee. Further, the SIP server can modify the
INVITE message by removing the phone number of the caller (or
replacing the phone number of the caller with a phone number of the
connection server). In one embodiment, the modified INVITE message
identifies the virtual softphone corresponding to the caller on the
telecommunication carrier as the SIP phone initiated the call;
thus, the virtual softphone corresponding to the callee on the
telecommunication carrier can establish media connection with the
virtual softphone corresponding to the caller on the
telecommunication carrier directly. Alternatively, the modified
INVITE message may identifies a media server (2321) (or a virtual
softphone on SIP server) as the initiator for a separate call. The
SIP server then connects the calls for the media stream.
[0323] In one embodiment, the caller is first connected to a media
server (e.g., 2321, 2323, or 2329). For example, the SIP server may
forward the SIP INVITE message to one or more of the media servers
for answering the call. When a media server (e.g., 2321) answers
the call, a prompt is played to the caller by the media server. The
media server may include an Interactive Voice Response (IVR)
system, or be connected to an IVR system, to obtain input from the
caller.
[0324] For example, the media server may prompt the caller to enter
the extension assigned to the callee, such that the phone number of
the callee can be determined based on the phone number including
the extension dialed by the caller. In some embodiments, the
extension dialed by the caller is sufficient to determine the phone
number of the callee. After the phone number of the callee is
determined, the SIP server can further connect the call to the
callee.
[0325] For example, the media server can send a message to the SIP
server. The message identifies the call and the extension obtained
from the caller. The SIP server then determines the callee's phone
number based at least on the extension received from the media
server and initiates a SIP call via the packet switched network
(2303) (e.g., by sending a SIP INVITE message to the
telecommunication carrier 2205, which further bridges the call to
the callee 2203). Then, the SIP server disconnects the media server
from the call and reconnects the call to the callee.
[0326] For example, the SIP server can send a SIP BYE message to
the media server to disconnect the media server from the call
(e.g., by sending a "BYE" message to the media server for the call)
and send a re-INVITE message towards the caller to connect the
caller and the callee. Alternatively, the media server may send a
SIP BYE message to the SIP server for the call; the BYE message may
include the extension obtained from the caller; in response to the
BYE message that contains the extension, the SIP server determines
the phone number of the callee and further connects the caller to
the callee.
[0327] In one embodiment, the SIP server can direct the caller and
the callee to connect to each other for the media stream without
having the media stream going through the session border controller
(2301) into the connection server (2305). For example, the media
stream can go through the telecommunication carrier (2205) in FIG.
22 without going to the connection server (2207) after the SIP
server connects the caller and the callee.
[0328] However, the SIP server stays on the signaling path to
monitor the progress and termination of the call. The SIP server
can also break the connection between the caller and the callee, or
force the media stream to come through the connection serve (2305).
For example, the SIP server may selectively conference a media
server into the call to monitor and/or record the communication of
the call between the caller and the callee. For example, the SIP
server may reconnect the caller and the callee to separate media
servers for interaction with an IVR system or a human operator to
confirm a deal or transaction.
[0329] Similarly, the SIP server may initiate a callback to a
caller via a SIP call over the packet switched network (2303) for a
connection to the caller. The SIP call may be bridged onto a
circuit switched network (e.g., by a telecommunication carrier
2205). The SIP server can then reconnect the call to a media server
for sending a prompt to the caller before reconnect the call to the
callee. Alternatively, the callback can be initiated from a media
server; and the call signaling (e.g., the INVITE message from the
media server) goes through the SIP server for call control.
Alternatively, the SIP server sends out the INVITE message on
behalf of the media server.
[0330] In one embodiment, the SIP servers (2311, 2313, . . . ,
2319) and media servers (2321, 2323, . . . , 2329) are implemented
on separate computers connected via a local area network (and/or
intranet or Internet). Alternatively, at least the some of the
servers can be implemented on a same computer. In one embodiment,
the SIP servers and the media servers are also integrated with the
session border controller (2301) on a same data process system
having multiple processors coupled with a data bus. In one
embodiment, the SIP servers are coupled to the media servers via a
network; and a SIP server may use any of the available media server
for interaction with the caller (or callee). Alternatively, a SIP
server may be configured to use one or more of media servers that
are not shared by other SIP server. For example, a SIP server may
be implemented on a same data processing system with one or more
media servers which are reserved for the SIP server.
[0331] In one embodiment, the connection server (2305) may further
include a database server (2305) to storing records related to the
calls, data mapping between the communication references assigned
to the callees and the actual phone numbers of the callees, etc. In
one embodiment, contact mapping are cached in the local memory
(e.g., RAM) of the servers for improved performance; and the cached
mapping is updated when the database is updated.
[0332] In general, routines executed to implement the embodiments
of the invention may be implemented as part of an operating system
or a specific application, component, program, object, module or
sequence of instructions referred to as "computer programs." The
computer programs typically comprise one or more instructions set
at various times in various memory and storage devices in a
computer, and that, when read and executed by one or more
processors in a computer, cause the computer to perform operations
necessary to execute elements involving the various aspects of the
invention.
[0333] While some embodiments of the invention have been described
in the context of fully functioning computers and computer systems,
those skilled in the art will appreciate that various embodiments
of the invention are capable of being distributed as a program
product in a variety of forms and are capable of being applied
regardless of the particular type of machine or computer-readable
media used to actually effect the distribution.
[0334] Examples of computer-readable media include but are not
limited to recordable and non-recordable type media such as
volatile and non-volatile memory devices, read only memory (ROM),
random access memory (RAM), flash memory devices, floppy and other
removable disks, magnetic disk storage media, optical storage media
(e.g., Compact Disk Read-Only Memory (CD ROMS), Digital Versatile
Disks, (DVDs), etc.), among others. The instructions may be
embodied in digital and analog communication links for electrical,
optical, acoustical or other forms of propagated signals, such as
carrier waves, infrared signals, digital signals, etc.
[0335] A machine readable medium can be used to store software and
data which when executed by a data processing system causes the
system to perform various methods of the present invention. The
executable software and data may be stored in various places
including for example ROM, volatile RAM, non-volatile memory and/or
cache. Portions of this software and/or data may be stored in any
one of these storage devices.
[0336] In general, a machine readable medium includes any mechanism
that provides (i.e., stores and/or transmits) information in a form
accessible by a machine (e.g., a computer, network device, personal
digital assistant, manufacturing tool, any device with a set of one
or more processors, etc.).
[0337] Aspects of the present invention may be embodied, at least
in part, in software. That is, the techniques may be carried out in
a computer system or other data processing system in response to
its processor, such as a microprocessor, executing sequences of
instructions contained in a memory, such as ROM, volatile RAM,
non-volatile memory, cache or a remote storage device.
[0338] In various embodiments, hardwired circuitry may be used in
combination with software instructions to implement the present
invention. Thus, the techniques are not limited to any specific
combination of hardware circuitry and software nor to any
particular source for the instructions executed by the data
processing system.
[0339] In this description, various functions and operations are
described as being performed by or caused by software code to
simplify description. However, those skilled in the art will
recognize what is meant by such expressions is that the functions
result from execution of the code by a processor, such as a
microprocessor.
[0340] Although some of the drawings illustrate a number of
operations in a particular order, operations which are not order
dependent may be reordered and other operations may be combined or
broken out. While some reordering or other groupings are
specifically mentioned, others will be apparent to those of
ordinary skill in the art and so do not present an exhaustive list
of alternatives. Moreover, it should be recognized that the stages
could be implemented in hardware, firmware, software or any
combination thereof.
[0341] In the foregoing specification, the invention has been
described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof.
It will be evident that various modifications may be made thereto
without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the
invention as set forth in the following claims. The specification
and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative
sense rather than a restrictive sense.
* * * * *
References